Investigating The Fatal Fire At Robbins Mill In Searsmont

The state's top public safety officials offered their thanks Tuesday to first responders, their ATF partners, the public, and medical professionals working so hard to take care of those injured in a massive fire and explosion at the Robbins Mill in Searsmont last Friday.

A dozen people were left injured, including local firefighters and two of the mill's owners. One volunteer firefighter from Montville, Andrew Cross, was killed.

Maine State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler was on hand at a press conference Tuesday, along with Maine's top officials, to update the public on the investigation.

Esler said Maine has not seen an emergency the likes of the Robbins sawmill incident in many years, stating the closest thing to compare it to is an explosion that occurred at a LEAP building on Route 2 in Farmington in 2019. Fire Captain Michael Bell was killed when a propane explosion leveled a building. Six other firefighters and a maintenance manager were injured in the incident.

Elser said over 300 firefighters from 46 communities across the state have stepped up since Friday's tragic fire in Searsmont to provide support and equipment to the cause.

He said the support from folks all over Maine has also been astounding, saying, "Waldo Strong" is not just a phrase.

Esler encouraged those who want to help to seek out official avenues to do so.

An official fund has been set up through the Maine Strong Memorial Foundation, where folks can confidently donate financial relief to those affected by Friday's fire and explosion.

"The Maine Strong Memorial Foundation has officially launched an Emergency Relief Fund supporting the confirmed individuals and families impacted by the explosion and fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. This tragedy has affected firefighters, first responders, individuals, families, and surrounding communities across Maine. As details continue to emerge, our goal is to begin raising funds immediately so support can be provided as quickly as possible to those impacted by this devastating event."

Click here to be taken directly to the donation link.

There is also a matching component to individual donations.

"The Maine Strong Memorial Foundation will also match up to $1,000 for each confirmed individual impacted by this tragedy, including the family of firefighter Andrew Cross, who tragically lost his life. At this time, donations will be collected centrally to allow support to be distributed fairly and efficiently among the confirmed individuals and families impacted by this tragedy."

They say all of the money donated will go to the individuals and families of those injured in the Robbins Mill fire.

Deputy Chief Joel Davis, an investigator with the Fire Marshal's Office, went on to say that the state emergency agencies are working hand-in-hand with their federal counterparts at the ATF, a relationship he says they have built upon years of cooperation.

Davis says there are currently 30 ATF agents in Maine helping to work this case, to determine what caused the fire and explosion at the Robbins Mill. Those agents are working with over 2 dozen members of the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office, lending their skills and equipment, and also freeing up some of the other Fire Marshal personnel to investigate other fires in the state.

Combined, the investigators have conducted over 100 interviews, set up a command center at the Searsmont Town Office, started to establish a timeline of what happened on Friday, and examined the scene of the fire extensively.

We're told the next step will be to bring in some heavy machinery to move the remaining parts of the collapsed silo out of the way so that further investigations can continue.

Authorities say it is still much too early in the investigation to determine a cause.

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Fire Marshal Esler, along with Deputy Chief Davis and Michael Sauscheck, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, all expressed deep gratitude and respect for the first responders who put their lives on the line Friday to get the fire under control, and passed along well-wishes to the individuals injured in the blaze, along with their families. They asked that people keep Andrew Cross and his family in their thoughts as they go through the devastating task of laying him to rest.

They hope to wrap up the investigation in the coming days, but say it could take longer depending on what they find and if the weather holds up.