PORTLAND, Maine — Firefighters who responded to a deadly fire and explosion at a Maine lumber mill used tactics that inadvertently helped cause the blast, according to a report from federal investigators.
How events unfolded
The May 15 fire and explosion killed three people, including two firefighters, and originated at the base of a silo , Maine authorities have said. The blast at Robbins Lumber in rural Searsmont also injured at least 13 people and the toppling of the silo engulfed the surrounding area in fire, they have said. The explosion took place in the small town about 95 miles northeast of Portland and triggered a response of 299 firefighters from 46 departments across a four-county area. The department’s assistant fire chief, Wayne Woodbury , 76, died from injuries suffered in the explosion. Andrew Cross , 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, also died.
The silo was an oxygen-limiting structure, according to a report released by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health this month.
At the scene, firefighters flowed water into the silo, though the manufacturer’s emergency procedures warn against that, the report said. “The document warns against spraying water or foam into the oxygen-limiting silo as it will force air in and may create a potentially explosive mixture,” the report states. “The application of water into the silo in this incident likely entrained oxygen into the silo headspace, stirred up dust within the contents, and caused it to become suspended in an explosive concentration. The report states in its recommendations that fire departments should make sure firefighters choose appropriate tactics for silo fires and never direct water or foam into oxygen-limiting silos. It also states that more training is needed for fire departments about the hazards associated with different types of silos. It took them hours to contain the fire. Representatives for Searsmont Fire & Rescue did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday. Alden Robbins , the co-owner of the mill, died from injuries weeks later.
Responses from Fire Safety Organizations Regarding Investigation
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has refrained from commenting on the recent report, stating only that it supports the involvement of firefighters in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) initiatives aimed at enhancing safety investigations. Similarly, the Maine Department of Public Safety has chosen not to provide any remarks on the matter.
