A firefighter died on Friday while battling a blaze at the Robbins Lumber mill complex in Searsmont.
The fire at the Route 131 mill was reported just after 10 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find a silo burning. While they were working to suppress the fire, an explosion occurred, Maine Department of Public Safety Shannon Moss said in a news release Friday evening.
Multiple people were injured and were taken to hospitals throughout the state, and several are reported to be in serious and critical condition, Moss said.
One firefighter was found dead at the scene, Moss said.
None of the victims have been identified.
Maine Health reported that Maine Medical Center in Portland is anticipating 10 patients injured in the fire arriving from midcoast hospitals. Northern Light Health had one patient in critical condition who was transferred to another facility.
The cause and origin of the fire are being investigated by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Speaking earlier in the day, Ben Hamel, purchasing manager at the mill, said the fire started in an area where wood shavings are packed in plastic bags. From there, the flames spread to a nearby silo that is filled with dust, which then exploded.
Moss said the investigation is expected to take some time because of the complexity of the scene.
