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“A monolithic occurrence and detonation astatine a lumber mill successful Maine's midcoast portion killed a firefighter and injured astatine slightest 11 different radical connected Friday (May 17, 2026),” authorities said.
“The firefighter was recovered dormant astatine the mill,” authorities officials said. “The firefighter was portion of a immense exigency effect to flames tearing done Robbins Lumber successful a agrarian country erstwhile a silo exploded,” authorities said. “The probe into the origin whitethorn not instantly connection answers,” Maine occurrence marshal, Shawn Esler said.
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MMC) successful Portland, which has a Level 1 trauma designation, said it was treating 10 patients who were transferred from section hospitals. “Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center successful Bangor was treating 1 diligent who was successful captious condition,” a spokesperson said. The mill is successful Searsmont, a municipality of astir 1,500 radical astir 150 kms from Portland.
State and section exigency responders helped arsenic occurrence departments worked for hours to incorporate the flames. “We person dumped each of the resources from the full region implicit to that area,” Waldo County 911 manager Mike Larrivee said.
Robbins Lumber's website describes the institution arsenic a “high-tech lumber manufacturer” that has been successful beingness since 1881 and family-owned for 5 generations.
Christian Halsted, a household spokesperson, said the occurrence was a “hugely devastating time for the family” and the mill volition not beryllium operating successful the adjacent future. “The household was cooperating with authorities connected the investigation,” helium said.
Lumber and wood products are a captious and historical manufacture successful Maine. The Maine Forest Products Council said it contributed much than $8 cardinal to the state's system successful 2024 and provides astir 29,000 jobs. Officials including Governor Janet Mills said they were monitoring the effect to the blaze.
“I impulse folks to enactment wide of the area, travel the instructions of instrumentality enforcement, and let exigency unit to respond,” Ms. Mills said connected the societal level X. “I inquire Maine radical to articulation maine successful keeping each those affected successful their thoughts.”
