Maine communities mourn firefighter killed in lumber mill explosion

"A memorial of flowers dedicated to Andrew Cross was left outside the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. First responders and other community members lined a highway and local roads Saturday to honor Cross as his remains were escorted about 46 miles (74 kilometers) east from Augusta to a funeral home in Belfast, Maine. The procession was routed to pass through Morrill to allow residents to pay their respects, the fire department said on Facebook."

"Roughly two dozen fire departments had responded to the massive flames that tore through a silo at Robbins Lumber in a rural area, according to the state fire marshal's office. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Robbins Lumber's website describes the company as a "high-tech lumber manufacturer" that has been in existence since 1881 and family-owned for five generations."

"MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, which has a Level 1 trauma designation, said Friday it was treating 10 patients who were transferred from local hospitals. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor had been treating one patient who was in critical condition but that patient was transferred to another facility, a spokesperson said in an email."

"The mill in Searsmont, a town of about 1,500 people about 95 miles (150 kilometers) from Portland, will not be operating in the near future. Christian Halsted, a family spokesperson, said the fire was a "hugely devastating day for the family" and they were cooperating with authorities on the investigation."

A 27-year-old firefighter, Andrew Cross, was killed in a large fire and explosion at a lumber mill in Maine’s midcoast region, with at least 11 other people injured. A memorial of flowers dedicated to Cross was placed outside the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. First responders and community members lined local roads as his remains were escorted about 46 miles from Augusta to a funeral home in Belfast, with the route passing through Morrill so residents could pay respects. Fire departments from across the region responded to flames that tore through a silo at Robbins Lumber. Medical centers reported treating multiple transferred patients, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation. The mill planned to stop operating in the near future.

Read at Boston.com