Three days after a deadly fire and explosion at the Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, the investigation continues but has been slowed by high winds that have sent debris flying and made aerial drone operation difficult, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
The Maine Office of State Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are documenting the scene, preserving evidence, conducting aerial mapping, and talking to witnesses, of whom they have interviewed more than 50 already. Investigators also examined similar mill infrastructure and electrical systems, according to the fire marshal’s office.
One ATF investigator suffered a minor injury related to the difficult site conditions, the office said.
The fire at the Route 131 mill complex happened on Friday morning. Firefighters arrived to find a silo burning. While they were working to suppress the fire, a dust explosion occurred in the silo. Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross died at the scene, and more than a dozen emergency and mill workers were injured with many taken to burn units at hospitals in Portland and Boston.
The fire marshal’s office on Monday released a list of people injured in the incident along with their current location:
Searsmont Fire
Chief James Ames – Released
Assistant Chief Wayne Woodbury – MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Searsmont EMS
Chief Sarah Tompkins – MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Liliane Robbins – Massachusetts General Hospital
Appleton Fire
Chief Clifton Marriner – Released
Belmont Fire
Katherine Paige – MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Montville Fire
Jacob Spaulding – MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Lincolnville Fire
Aaron Heald – Released
Robbins Lumber
Co-owner Alden Robbins – Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-owner James Robbins – Massachusetts General Hospital
Thomas Wolf – MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
John Ward – Released
