A massive fire broke out Friday morning at the Robbins Lumber mill in Maine, where a fire was reported in a silo before an explosion occurred as fire departments were responding, leaving one firefighter dead and 12 people injured. Firefighter Andrew Cross was later confirmed to have died in the incident, while six of the injured are firefighters and two work for Searsmont Emergency Medical Services.

📍 Searsmont, Maine
🗓️ 5/15/2026

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the explosion, and officials said more than 40 fire departments responded to the scene. Could THIA have prevented this fire? 

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To learn more about this thermal event, click the link below. 

https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-mill-explosion-firefighter-death-updates/71337036