Emergency Equipes from several cities in Condado of Waldo, Maine, work to contain a fire that broke out in the Robbins Lumber sawmill in Searsmont after an explosion in a wood dust silo. Pessoas were injured and transported by helicopter to hospitals in different regions of the state. Rota 131, the main access road to the factory, was closed at the intersection with Rua School and Estrada Ghent because of the dense column of smoke that rose from the site.
Shannon Moss, spokesperson for Departamento of Segurança Pública of Maine, confirmed that victims were removed by air, but did not disclose the exact number of injuries. Catherine Robbins-Halsted, co-owner of Robbins Lumber, told reporters that “all employees have been located” but declined to provide details about injuries or the condition of the victims.
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Dinâmica of fire and spread of flames
The fire started in a sector where wood chips are packed in plastic bags. Segundos later, the flames spread to an adjacent silo filled with wood dust, which subsequently suffered an explosion of considerable force. Ben Hamel, the factory’s purchasing manager, described the episode: “It’s like a little rocket.” Pouco after 2 p.m., the smoke that was initially black changed color to white and brown as firefighters launched water jets onto the structure using trucks with ladders.
Resposta of authorities and resource mobilization
Investigadores from the state fire chief’s office were called and traveled to the scene just after 1 p.m. A LifeFlight helicopter had already arrived on scene when the fire reached its peak, with another en route to Searsmont. George Sprowl, a resident of the city, witnessed the sudden darkening of the sky while walking his dog in the urban center. Ele stated, “This is a terrible catastrophe for Searsmont.”
Governor Janet Mills was informed about the situation and was following developments. State deputy Jared Golden also expressed awareness of the incident through a public statement, advising residents to follow instructions from law enforcement authorities and consult only official channels and reliable sources for updates.
Industrial installation Histórico
Robbins Lumber has existed since 1881. Frank and Otis Robbins initially founded a small stave sawmill on the banks of the St river. George. In 1957, the facility was completely destroyed by a previous fire, according to company records. The operation was rebuilt, but faced another fire episode in 2024:
- Incêndio occurred in the drying oven control room
- Nenhuma victim was recorded in that incident
- The fire remained contained within the furnace building
- Instalação remained operational after repairs
The current event marks the sawmill’s second significant fire in less than a year, differing from the previous one in its scale, severity and involvement of victims transported by helicopter.