Overview
- The explosion that rocked the Searsmont mill Friday killed Morrill volunteer firefighter Andrew Cross, 27, and injured at least 10 responders and workers.
- State fire marshals and the ATF National Response Team are securing the site this week as specialists map damage, gather evidence, and use modeling to trace the fire’s origin.
- High winds on Monday disrupted drone mapping by sending debris aloft, which also contributed to a minor injury to an ATF investigator.
- Several victims remain at Maine Medical Center in Portland, and owners Jim and Alden Robbins along with family member Lily Robbins are being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital’s burn unit.
- Relief efforts expanded as a community GoFundMe topped $23,000 by Sunday and Hammond Lumber pledged $100,000 through the Maine Strong Memorial Foundation.