Robbins Mill In Searsmont Is Back To Business Two Weeks After Deadly Silo Explosion And Fire

It's been just over two weeks now since a deadly fire and explosion at the Robbins Lumber Company in Searsmont killed one and sent almost a dozen others to the hospital.

Robbins Mill Fire, Maine Department of Public Safety

At the end of May, state and federal fire officials determined that a fire and subsequent silo explosion at a family-owned lumber mill in Waldo County were the result of an accident.

Read More: Robbins Mill Fire Investigation: Key Findings So Far

"Investigators believe the fire originated in the area of the unloader mechanism at the base of the silo. Before fire suppression operations could fully contain the smoldering fire, a rapid ignition of suspended particulate material resulted in an explosion within the silo. Investigators determined during the explosion that the silo lifted from its concrete base, releasing large amounts of sawdust and additional particulate material."

The explosion left two of the mill owners and another Robbins family member in hospital burn units around New England, alongside many first responders who rushed to the scene to fight the blaze.

Robbins Mill Investigation, Maine Department of Public Safety

Despite unimaginable challenges and heartbreak, the community and the company have rallied, and just last Friday, the Robbins family issued a statement on their website thanking everyone for their prayers and support, saying they have managed to get the mill back up and running.

"We are pleased to share that Robbins Lumber resumed full mill operations...Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our employees and partners, we have worked quickly to restore operations safely and efficiently. Our coatings facility, located just five miles away, was not impacted and continues normal operations. We are also utilizing our Sanford, Maine, location for warehousing, while our East Baldwin mill has stepped up production efforts to support customer order needs."

The statement went on to say that mill co-owners Jim and  Alden Robbins, along with Lily Robbins, continue to be cared for at Mass General, where they are receiving treatment for the injuries they sustained in the fire.

V.P. of Administration at Robbins Lumber, Catherine Robbins-Halsted, ended the message expressing appreciation for everyone who has stood by the mill while operations were down, and to those who have supported the families and first responders affected by the accident.

Get our free mobile app

Meanwhile, it was announced that the Maine Strong Memorial Foundation, the organization formed to receive donations for those directly impacted by the fire, including first responders, has extended the donation window another two weeks, through June 14th.

Read More: Neighbors Helping Heroes: Brewer's Community Comes Together

The City of Brewer is also hosting a benefit fundraiser at the Brewer Auditorium at the end of this month.

The Town of Searsmont also posted recently that the U.S. Small Business Administration is working with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Maine Department of Community and Economic Development to collect impact statements from local businesses directly affected by the fire and explosion.

They are hoping to use these statements to request a Disaster Declaration from the Federal Government that will hopefully open up other avenues of assistance for those Waldo County businesses in need.