Firefighter killed, 10 injured in Robbins Lumber explosion in Maine

Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, rangers and other responders formed a solemn line in Augusta to honor the firefighter killed in the Robbins Lumber explosion, a final salute that underscored how quickly an industrial fire can turn deadly for the crews sent in to contain it.

The blaze and explosion struck Robbins Lumber in Searsmont on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the mill on 506 Main Street South, also identified as 53 Ghent Road. Officials said one firefighter was killed and at least 10 other people were injured. Maine Medical Center said 10 injured patients were transferred there after initial treatment in Belfast and Rockport, while victims were also treated in Augusta and Bangor.

The firefighter’s body was taken to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for identification and autopsy. About 100 responders lined the driveway as the flag-draped casket passed, and more than 50 vehicles joined the procession. Maine State Police, Forest Rangers and other law enforcement saluted as the remains arrived, a tribute that reflected both the scale of the response and the loss inside Maine’s firefighting ranks.

Department of Public Safety Director Michael Sauschuck called the day “very traumatic” and said investigators were still working to determine what happened. Gov. Janet Mills urged people to stay clear of the area, follow law enforcement instructions and allow emergency personnel to respond. Rep. Michael Ray said his heart and prayers were with employees and their families, while Rep. Reagan Paul asked people to pray for the Robbins family, employees, first responders and others affected. Sen. Angus King said he was monitoring reports and commended the first responders.

Robbins Lumber Inc. is a sixth-generation, family-owned sawmill that has operated in Searsmont since 1881, employing more than 200 people and working with nearly 100 private logging contractors across the state, according to Dana Doran. Its 40-acre site includes a biomass co-generation plant, a computerized sawmill, 675,000 board foot capacity kilns, planing mills, a cut-up shop, a 70,000-square-foot warehouse and offices.

The company said all employees were accounted for and that the mill would not operate the following week while the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office investigated. Maine Department of Environmental Protection records show the facility has long operated under air-emissions licensing tied to lumber manufacturing equipment, including boilers, kilns and biomass cogeneration. Those records name Robbins Lumber, Inc. as the owner and Georges River Energy, LLC as the operator of the biomass cogeneration process.

The tragedy in Searsmont now reaches beyond one mill and one community. It has renewed attention on the risks firefighters face when explosions, heavy machinery, fuel systems and industrial processes collide, and on whether every warning sign and safety safeguard was enough to protect the people who ran toward the fire.