An explosion followed by a massive fire at a Maine lumber facility has left at least 11 people injured, according to local authorities.
Officials in Waldo County have classified the incident as a “mass casualty event.” A spokesperson for MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, which operates as a Level 1 trauma facility, confirmed they were preparing to receive 10 patients being transferred from area hospitals. Meanwhile, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center reported treating one patient listed in critical condition, according to a hospital spokesperson in Bangor.
The blast occurred at Robbins Lumber, located in Searsmont, a community of approximately 1,500 residents situated roughly 95 miles from Portland. Officials are working to determine what caused the explosion.
“We have dumped all of the resources from the whole county over to that area,” said Mike Larrivee, Waldo County 911 director.
State police spokesperson Shannon Moss confirmed that Maine State Police and fire marshals had been dispatched to the scene.
Attempts to reach Robbins Lumber for comment were unsuccessful. According to the company’s website, the business has operated as a family-owned enterprise for five generations since its founding in 1881. The site identifies the operation as “a high-tech lumber manufacturer.”
The lumber and wood products sector represents a vital and longstanding industry throughout Maine, particularly in the state’s rural communities. According to the Maine Forest Products Council, the industry generated more than $8 billion for the state’s economy in 2024 while supporting approximately 29,000 jobs.
Gov. Janet Mills announced that public officials were closely tracking the emergency response efforts.
“I urge folks to stay clear of the area, follow the instructions of law enforcement, and allow emergency personnel to respond. I ask Maine people to join me in keeping all those affected in their thoughts,” Mills wrote in a post on X.
