Federal report says firefighting tactics at Maine lumber mill explosion aided the blast
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — 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…
Firefighters responding to a deadly explosion at a Maine lumber mill inadvertently aided the blast with their tactics, federal investigators reported. The May 15 incident in Searsmont killed three people, including two firefighters, and injured at least 13. The explosion originated at the base of an oxygen-limiting silo, which the manufacturer's emergency procedures explicitly warn against spraying water or foam into.
Firefighters, however, did so, potentially creating an explosive mixture by forcing air into the silo and stirring up dust. The report recommends fire departments avoid directing water or foam into such silos and emphasizes the need for more training about the hazards of different types of silos. The explosion also triggered a response of 299 firefighters from 46 departments across a four-county area, taking hours to contain. The mill's co-owner, Alden Robbins, died weeks after the explosion.
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