MORRILL, Maine (AP) – A tragic incident occurred at a lumber mill in Maine's midcoast region, resulting in the death of 27-year-old firefighter Andrew Cross during a massive fire and explosion on May 15, 2026. This devastating event also left at least 11 other individuals injured.
On the following day, a memorial of flowers was placed outside the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department in honor of Cross. Community members and fellow first responders came out in droves to line the highway and local roads as a procession carrying his remains traveled approximately 46 miles (74 kilometers) east to a funeral home in Belfast, Maine. The procession was specially routed to pass through Morrill to allow the residents to pay their last respects, as confirmed by the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department's Facebook post.
The fire erupted at Robbins Lumber, located in Searsmont, a small town of about 1,500 residents, and prompted a response from roughly two dozen fire departments due to the intensity of the blaze that engulfed a silo. The state fire marshal's office confirmed that extensive efforts were required to manage the fire.
In the aftermath of the incident, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, which holds a Level 1 trauma designation, stated that they were treating 10 patients who had been transferred from local hospitals. Meanwhile, a patient who was initially in critical condition at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor has been transferred to another facility for further care, according to a spokesperson’s email update.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the Robbins Lumber company's website identifies it as a "high-tech lumber manufacturer" that has been operational since 1881 and has remained family-owned for five generations. Following this tragic event, it has been announced that the mill will not be operational for the foreseeable future.
Christian Halsted, a family spokesperson, expressed the family's devastation over the incident, noting that they were cooperating with authorities during the ongoing investigation. The lumber and wood products industry is pivotal to Maine's economy, generating more than $8 billion in revenue and creating approximately 29,000 jobs, as stated by the Maine Forest Products Council.
This incident not only highlights the risks faced by firefighters and first responders but also underscores the importance of the lumber industry within the state, which serves as a significant economic engine for local communities.
