A second firefighter has succumbed to injuries he sustained while battling a fire and explosion at a Maine lumber mill last month.
The blaze erupted on May 15 at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, sending massive clouds of black smoke into the sky and drawing hundreds of firefighters to the rural area. Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, 76, passed away Sunday morning from those injuries, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Woodbury was one of more than 10 people hurt in the fire and explosion. Andrew Cross, 27, a member of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, had also previously died as a result of the incident.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a statement honoring Woodbury’s sacrifice. “Wayne gave his life to protect his community, and his sacrifice and example will never be forgotten,” she said. “On behalf of the people of Maine, I extend my deepest condolences to the Searsmont Fire Department, to his community and to all impacted by this devastating loss.”
Authorities said the fire was accidental and started at the base of a silo. According to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, combustible particulate material ignited rapidly, triggering an explosion inside the silo that lifted it off its concrete base and released large quantities of sawdust and other debris. The silo then fell over, and the surrounding area was quickly consumed by fire.
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing, the public safety department noted. Lumber mills are known to be significant sources of combustible dust, making them particularly vulnerable to this type of incident.
Maine Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau also responded to the news Monday, saying his “heart goes out to (Woodbury’s) family, colleagues, and all who are affected by this tragedy.”
Robbins Lumber describes itself as a high-tech lumber manufacturer with more than a century of history. The Searsmont facility sits roughly 95 miles northeast of Portland, Maine’s largest city. The lumber and wood products industry is a cornerstone of Maine’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity annually.
