Investigators share preliminary findings of what caused Maine lumber mill fire and explosion

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:02]WE WANT TO TURN NOW TO BREAKING NEWS FIRST AT FOUR.... AN UPDATE FROM OFFICIALS ON THE DEADLY FIRE AND EXPLOSION AT ROBBINS LUMBER IN SEARSMONT.

[00:00:11]WE'RE LEARNING MORE ON WHAT INVESTIGATORS SAY CAUSED THE FIRE.

[00:00:16]JON CHRISOS JOINS US WITH THE DETAILS JUST COMING INTO OUR NEWSROOM.. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION AT THE LUMBER MILL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTAL.

[00:00:27]THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND ATF WRAPPED UP THE INITIAL ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION -- AFTER WORKING THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

[00:00:36]OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE UNLOADER MECHANISM AT THE BASE OF THE SILO.

[00:00:48]BEFORE CREWS COULD FULLY CONTAIN THE SMOLDERING FIRE, SUSPENDED SAWDUST AND OTHER MATERIAL RAPIDLY IGNITED, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION INSIDE THE SILO.

[00:01:00]INVESTIGATORS SAY THE SILO LIFTED FROM ITS BASE, RELEASED MORE SAWDUST, THEN TOPPLED OVER AS FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY TO NEARBY BUILDINGS IN THE MILL COMPLEX.

[00:01:15]THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ACTIVE. OFFICIALS PLAN ADDITIONAL TESTING OF