A firefighter is useless, and a number of other individuals are in severe or essential situation after a burning silo exploded at a lumber mill in Maine, based on emergency officers. Video of the scene from sister station WMTW reveals a hearth and smoke billowing into the air at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, a city of about 1,500 individuals, about 95 miles from Portland, Maine.The incident was reported round 11 a.m. on Friday, and as of Friday afternoon, the fireplace was contained however not out. Earlier Friday, officers had stated that not less than 11 individuals have been injured, together with firefighters. The Maine Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace and a number of hearth departments responded to what Waldo County Dispatch known as a mass casualty incident following an explosion and large hearth at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont. A mass casualty incident doesn’t imply that anybody is useless; it means there are believed to be extra potential sufferers than the native division can deal with.Video under: Drone video reveals large hearth at Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, MaineThe Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace stated a number of hearth departments responded to a reported hearth in one of many silos at Robbins Lumber at about 10:05 a.m.Crews from the Searsmont Fireplace Division and quite a few mutual assist departments have been working to knock the silo hearth down when an explosion occurred.Firefighter discovered useless, different accidents reportedOfficials stated one firefighter was discovered useless on the scene. A number of individuals sustained accidents and have been transported to hospitals all through the state, and a number of other have been reported to be in severe and demanding situation as of Friday night.The physique of the firefighter killed within the explosion shall be transported to the Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, the place an post-mortem shall be carried out, and the sufferer’s identification shall be confirmed, based on the Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace.As of Friday night, investigators have been nonetheless working by means of notifications and confirming data associated to those that have been injured. Officers stated further details about those that have been injured shall be shared when acceptable.Earlier within the day on Friday, Maine Medical Heart stated it anticipated the switch of 10 sufferers to its Emergency Division who have been injured within the incident and initially handled at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital. The Related Press studies that MaineHealth Maine Medical Heart in Portland, which has a Stage 1 trauma designation, stated it was treating 10 sufferers who had been transferred from native hospitals. Northern Mild Jap Maine Medical Heart in Bangor informed WMTW at 2 p.m. it had acquired one affected person who was in essential situation. Officers stated simply after 1 p.m. that no workers have been injured and all workers are accounted for. That was based on Catherine Robbins-Halsted, the Vice President of Administration answerable for Finance, Human Assets, and Insurances, and President of Robbins Lumber East Baldwin.She stated there are typically two individuals working within the space that’s affected and that the fireplace seemed to be contained, but it surely was not out. She additionally stated there was important structural harm.“We’ve dumped all the assets from the entire county over to that space,” Waldo County 911 director Mike Larrivee stated.The Augusta Fireplace Chief confirmed to Maine’s Whole Protection that an Augusta ambulance crew intercepted one affected person with burns sustained within the Searsmont incident and took them to the hospital in Augusta. The chief stated that particular person received into a private car to get to the hospital. The chief additionally stated hospitals close to Searsmont have been very busy. Emergency response and investigationThe Maine Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace confirmed that they had investigators headed to the lumber mill. WMTW additionally confirmed quite a few hearth departments on the scene. A helicopter was additionally seen flying over the fireplace.The investigation additionally contains officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA) and Maine Division of Environmental Safety (Maine DEP).“We’ve not even actually begun a scene examination, so we don’t have a trigger, and will not have one for a while. We’ve an incredible quantity of labor to do,” Maine Fireplace Marshal Shawn Esler stated Friday afternoon.The Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace stated crews have contained the fireplace, however suppression efforts have been nonetheless underway as of Friday night. The trigger and origin of the fireplace are being investigated, however due to the complexity of the scene, the investigation is predicted to take a while. Firefighters stated they anticipated to be on the scene for a number of days.The Crimson Cross informed WMTW that it was mobilizing a catastrophe motion group and that 10 skilled catastrophe responders have been en route. The Crimson Cross stated they’d be serving in a help capability, guaranteeing firefighters and first responders have what they should proceed preventing the fireplace. That features offering water, snacks and luxury gadgets like blankets and cots. The Crimson Cross stated it was additionally in shut communication with native emergency administration businesses.Officers react to explosionMaine Gov. Janet Mills stated she has been briefed on the state of affairs and is urging individuals to remain away from the world. “I ask Maine individuals to hitch me in retaining all these affected of their ideas,” she stated.Each of Maine’s senators additionally expressed their ideas on social media.”The Robbins household is beloved within the Searsmont group, and Robbins Lumber is a chunk of Maine historical past,” stated Sen. Susan Collins. “I’ve identified the household for a few years. My coronary heart goes out to them, their workers, and the primary responders who’ve come from everywhere in the area to assist in the emergency response. It is a very unhappy disaster, and all these affected are in my prayers.”Sen. Angus King stated he has incessantly visited the mill.”My coronary heart goes out to Jim Robbins and his household, the employees, and the Searsmont group,” King stated. “In your security and the well-being of our wider Maine group, please comply with the steerage of native emergency personnel.”Firm and business background The corporate’s web site states that it has been a family-owned agency for 5 generations and has been in existence since 1881. The web site describes the corporate as a “a high-tech lumber producer.”There are over 115 workers on the Robbins Mill in Searsmont, and the corporate has one other 100 or so workers at different areas throughout Maine. Lumber and wooden merchandise are a essential and historic business in Maine, particularly in rural components of the state. The Maine Forest Merchandise Council stated the business contributed greater than $8 billion to the state’s economic system in 2024 and supplies about 29,000 jobs.Proprietor of mill provides statementThe proprietor of the enterprise gave a short assertion Friday afternoon.He known as it a massively devastating day for his household. He requested for respect for his household and stated the mill is not going to be working this week.Response from logging communityThe Skilled Logging Contractors of the Northeast shared the next assertion regarding the tragedy at Robbins Lumber.”The Skilled Logging Contractors of the Northeast is deeply saddened by the tragic explosion and hearth at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine as we speak. We lengthen our deepest sympathies to the victims, their households, the Robbins Lumber group, first responders, and the encompassing group throughout this extremely tough time.”Robbins Lumber has been a valued Supporting Member of the PLC for a few years and is a vital wooden purchaser for logging contractors all through the area. The corporate has lengthy performed a big function in supporting Maine’s forest economic system and the livelihoods of many hardworking households related to the business.”It is a close-knit business, and incidents like this are felt all through the whole area. Because the state of affairs continues to develop, we stand with everybody affected and stay eager for the speedy restoration of these injured. The PLC extends its heartfelt help to Robbins Lumber and all these impacted by this devastating occasion.”