SEARSMONT, MAINE — One firefighter was killed and at least 10 others were injured Friday after a fire and explosion at the Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, Maine. Firefighters had responded to a fire in the silo of the mill at 10 a.m. when the explosion occurred during suppression efforts.

"While firefighters were conducting fire suppression efforts, an explosion occurred. Multiple individuals sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals throughout the state," spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a statement. The firefighter who died was found at the scene, and the body was transported to the medical examiner's office in Augusta for an autopsy and identification. Several other firefighters were in serious and critical condition, and the fire was still active as of late Friday afternoon.

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, which holds a Level 1 trauma designation, said it had anticipated 10 patients to its emergency department. On Saturday, the hospital said eight of the 10 patients brought there were still being treated and that two had been transferred to other facilities. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor treated one patient in critical condition and said Saturday that the patient had been transferred elsewhere.

Roughly two dozen fire departments responded to the silo fire, according to the state fire marshal's office. The Thorndike Fire Department said in a social media post that multiple firefighters and civilians were injured and that multiple fire trucks were lost to fire.

A memorial of flowers dedicated to Andrew Cross sat outside the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday. A procession of dozens of firetrucks, police cars, and other vehicles escorted Cross's remains to a funeral home through the town of Morrill, where dozens of first responders and other community members gathered to salute and pay respects. Morrill has fewer than 1,000 residents.

All employees at the mill were accounted for after the fire. "We have not even really begun a scene examination, so we do not have a cause, and may not have one for some time," Maine fire marshal Shawn Esler said. The mill will not be operating in the near future, family spokesperson Christian Halsted said, adding that the Robbins family is cooperating with authorities on the investigation.

Governor Janet Mills was briefed on the fire and urged civilians to stay clear of the area. Robbins Lumber, a family-owned business that opened in 1881, manages 30,000 acres of its own forests. In 1957, the mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt with a new sawmill. Searsmont, a town of about 1,500 people, is located about 95 miles from Portland. The lumber and wood products industry contributed more than $8 billion to Maine's economy in 2024 and provided about 29,000 jobs, according to the Maine Forest Products Council.