Authorities Identify Firefighter Who Died In Searsmont Mill Explosion

Authorities have released the identity of the firefighter who was killed fighting a massive fire at a sawmill in Waldo County on Friday. 27-year-old Andrew Cross, a firefighter with the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, was helping to suppress a fire that had broken out at Robbins Lumber Company just after 10 AM on Friday when a silo on site exploded and he was killed.

Read More: Searsmont, Maine Lumberyard Fire Leads To Fatalities And Serious Injuries

His body was later recovered and taken to Augusta to the State's Chief Medical Examiner's Office so an autopsy could be performed and his identity confirmed.

State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said, “Our deepest sympathies, thoughts, and prayers are with the firefighter’s family, loved ones, and colleagues during this devastating time."

The body of Firefighter Andrew Cross will be transported Saturday morning from the Medical Examiner's office to Riposta's Funeral Home in Belfast. The State Police Honor Guard will travel alongside him.

We're told they will leave the Augusta at 11 AM Saturday, make their way along Route 3 to Morrill, where community members and friends can salute their fallen hero, according to the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department:

"To honor our fallen Firefighter, an honor procession will be coming through Morrill Village at approximately 11:30 am today if you would like to pay respects. The procession will be traveling through the Weymouth Rd, the village, to Hartsorn Rd to Belfast."

They will then proceed across Route 137 to Belfast until they reach their destination on Waldo Avenue.

Firefighters from almost 25 surrounding fire departments, including Searsmont and Morrill,  responded to Friday's mass casualty event, including  Albion, Appleton, Belmont, Camden, Freedom, Hermon, Hope, Jackson, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Northport, Palermo, Prospect, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Thorndike, Union, Unity, Waldo, Warren, West Frankfort, and Whitefield Fire Departments.

Many of those departments are volunteer-based.

We send our deepest respects and condolences to the family of Firefighter Cross and his brother and sisters in the Fire Department. Our hearts are with all of Maine's firefighters today as they deal with the loss and the challenges left in the wake of Friday's tragedy.