Overview
- The blast, which erupted Friday while crews fought a fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, killed 27-year-old volunteer firefighter Andrew Cross and injured 12.
- State fire investigators with the ATF National Response Team have secured the site, mapped debris from the silo, and interviewed more than 50 people, but winds have hampered drone work and no cause has been found.
- Eight people remain hospitalized in Portland and Boston, including owners Jim and Alden Robbins and family member Liliane Robbins at Massachusetts General Hospital’s burn center, while several firefighters have been released.
- The explosion destroyed fire vehicles from Searsmont, Belmont, and Appleton, and neighboring departments are supplying trucks to keep emergency coverage in place.
- Robbins Lumber told the state it will not lay off workers, is paying employees while the mill is shut this week, and aims to restart production once investigators clear more of the site.