State fire investigators responded to the scene of a serious crash Friday. Robbins Lumber Company of Searsmont, Maine,according to maine Department of Public Safety.
The Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the Main Street facility and crews are actively responding to the scene. A resident named Tiffany Mannarini took video of the huge flames rising from the mill and shared the video, saying she recorded it from Appleton Ridge and could see how big the fire was.
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Governor issues warning as smoke reaches 4,000 feet
maine Governor Janet Mills addressed the situation in a statement social media Published by noon Friday. “I have been informed of what is happening in Searsmont. I urge people to stay away from the area, follow the instructions of law enforcement and allow emergency personnel to respond. I ask the people of Maine to join me in keeping an eye on all those affected,” she said.
Around the same time, real-time radar showed visible smoke rising over the area. news center maine Meteorologists confirmed that the top of the plume reached about 4,000 feet in the air, a clear indication of the fire’s severity.
Emergency dispatchers are treating the incident as a possible “mass casualty incident” and are calling for additional help from nearby emergency departments, CBS 13 reported.
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About Robbins Lumber Company
The Robbins Lumber Company was one of the most important lumber companies in the area. It owns and manages 30,000 acres of its own forests and purchases logs from more than 150 independent loggers, according to the company’s website. Its milling facility, located on 40 acres in Searsmont, includes a combined heat and power plant, kilns with a capacity of 675,000 board feet, a computerized sawmill, planing mill, a cutting shop, 70,000 square feet of warehouse space and the company’s main offices.
The cause of the incident has not been confirmed. Authorities continue to urge the public to stay away from the area.
