Hundreds turn out to mourn Searsmont assistant fire chief Wayne Woodbury

 Searsmont Fire Chief James Ames presents Linda Woodbury with the flag of her brother Wayne Woodbury at a memorial service Wednesday for Woodbury at Belfast High School. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer ) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43667298_20260625_16firefighter_.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Searsmont%20Fire%20Chief%20James%20Ames%20presents%20Linda%20Woodbury%20with%20the%20flag%20of%20her%20brother%20Wayne%20Woodbury%20at%20a%20memorial%20service%20Wednesday%20for%20Woodbury%20at%20Belfast%20High%20School.%20%28Rich%20Abrahamson%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%20%29%22%7D) View 10 photos BELFAST — Firefighter Thomas Wolf, his head still bandaged from injuries he sustained in a massive fire and explosion at a Searsmont lumber mill last month, solemnly rang a chrome fire bell in the Belfast Area High School gym. The ceremony issued a symbolic final alarm for the late Wayne Woodbury, Searsmont’s assistant fire chief, who died recently from injuries he suffered in the same deadly fire. The last alarm call, Woodbury’s fellow firefighter and friend Jodi Staples said, signified Woodbury returning to quarters, for one last time. About 400 people, most of them firefighters, attended a memorial service for Woodbury at Belfast Area High School, honoring the man who gave more than 60 years of his life to protecting the communities of Searsmont and Belmont by fighting fires and responding to emergency calls while also serving on the fire brigade at Bath Iron Works, his workplace. They also honored the many firefighters, who, like Woodbury, risk their lives to protect their communities. “Wayne was always thinking of others,” said Staples, fighting tears as she recounted that Woodbury loved to fish. He didn’t eat what he caught; he gave it away, as he did with apples and pears from his family’s orchards. “Wayne, we’re saddened by your loss and your passing. You will be remembered. And you will be loved.” Advertisement [Woodbury, 76, of Belmont, died June 14](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/06/14/searsmont-assistant-fire-chief-dies-from-injuries-following-sawmill-explosion/) at Maine Medical Center in Portland due to injuries he suffered in the explosive fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont on May 15. Woodbury spent more than 60 years volunteering as a firefighter, according to his [obituary](https://ripostafh.com/tribute/details/22057/Wayne-Woodbury/obituary.html#tribute-start). He was a longtime employee of Bath Iron Works, an outdoorsman and fisherman. He loved wildlife, nature and his two mischievous cats.  A dozen people were injured in the Searsmont explosion, and several remain hospitalized.  [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43667298_20260625_10firefighter_.jpg) Searsmont firefighter Tom Wolf, center, carries the helmet of his friend and fallen firefighter Wayne Woodbury, as Searsmont fire chief James Ames, left, carries Woodbury’s cremains Wednesday as a memorial service begins for Woodbury at Belfast High School. Searsmont fire firefighter B. Levesque carries Woodbury’s flag. Wolf was burned in the mill fire that Woodbury was also burned in. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer ) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43667298_20260625_10firefighter_.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Searsmont%20firefighter%20Tom%20Wolf%2C%20center%2C%20carries%20the%20helmet%20of%20his%20friend%20and%20fallen%20firefighter%20Wayne%20Woodbury%2C%20as%20Searsmont%20fire%20chief%20James%20Ames%2C%20left%2C%20carries%20Woodbury%5Cu2019s%20cremains%20Wednesday%20as%20a%20memorial%20service%20begins%20for%20Woodbury%20at%20Belfast%20High%20School.%20Searsmont%20fire%20firefighter%20B.%20Levesque%20carries%20Woodbury%5Cu2019s%20flag.%20Wolf%20was%20burned%20in%20the%20mill%20fire%20that%20Woodbury%20was%20also%20burned%20in.%20%28Rich%20Abrahamson%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%20%29%22%7D) Among the injured was Wolf, who carried Woodbury’s firefighting helmet into the school gym for the ceremony, followed by Searsmont Chief James Ames, a close friend of Woodbury, who carried Woodbury’s urn. [Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/21/hundreds-pay-their-respects-to-fallen-morrill-firefighter-andrew-cross/), 27, also died as a result of the fire. Gov. Janet Mills ordered [flags be lowered Wednesday in honor of Woodbury](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/06/23/flags-to-be-lowered-in-honor-of-searsmont-assistant-fire-chief-on-wednesday/). Maine and U.S. flags were to be lowered from sunrise to sunset statewide. Mills previously ordered flags be lowered for Cross on May 22. Advertisement [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/WoodburyIMG_7882.jpg) Hundreds turned out Wednesday for the funeral of Wayne Woodbury, Searsmont’s assistant fire chief who died from injuries he sustained from the fiery explosion at Robbins Lumber last month. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer) “Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury gave his life to protect his community, and his sacrifice and example will never be forgotten,” Mills said in a release announcing the flag lowering. “On behalf of the people of Maine, I extend my deepest condolences to the Searsmont Fire Department, to his community, and to all impacted by this devastating loss.” Related [Inside the Searsmont lumber mill fire and explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/22/inside-the-searsmont-lumber-mill-fire-and-explosion/?_gl=1*c1gyul*_gcl_au*OTIzNjgzODU4LjE3ODAzMTc2NTY.*_ga*MTIxNDc2MTkwMC4xNzQ5MDM4NTE4*_ga_ZYHMH0BHHB*czE3ODIzMDYzNDUkbzM5MyRnMSR0MTc4MjMwNjQ4NiRqNDckbDAkaDA.) Sarah Tomkins, one of the injured firefighters, shared on her farm’s social media page earlier this week she was having her seventh surgery in five weeks on Wednesday. She and her husband just celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. The post on the page notes, “It is because of all the hard work of EMTs, firefighters, Life Flight crews, the burn team, the ICU nurse, and everyone at Maine Medical Center, that this time next year we will celebrate our ninth (wedding anniversary).” Two ladder fire trucks — one from Liberty, one from Belfast — were setup at the entrance of Belfast Area High School , with a large American flag draped between them over the driveway. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43667298_20260625_03firefighter_.jpg) Firefighters raise a giant flag using firetrucks from Liberty and Belfast fire departments Wednesday while setting up for a procession for the funeral of Searsmont assistant fire Chief Wayne Woodbury at Belfast Area High School. Firefighters including Dan MacAuley of the Boston Fire Department, left, arrived early to set up the flag that he and Christian Waterman, also of the Boston Fire Department, delivered to the memorial service. The men are with the honor guard and the sea of blue honoring Woodbury. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43667298_20260625_03firefighter_.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Firefighters%20raise%20a%20giant%20flag%20using%20firetrucks%20from%20Liberty%20and%20Belfast%20fire%20departments%20Wednesday%20while%20setting%20up%20for%20a%20procession%20for%20the%20funeral%20of%20Searsmont%20assistant%20fire%20Chief%20Wayne%20Woodbury%20at%20Belfast%20Area%20High%20School.%20Firefighters%20including%20Dan%20MacAuley%20of%20the%20Boston%20Fire%20Department%2C%20left%2C%20arrived%20early%20to%20set%20up%20the%20flag%20that%20he%20and%20Christian%20Waterman%2C%20also%20of%20the%20Boston%20Fire%20Department%2C%20delivered%20to%20the%20memorial%20service.%20The%20men%20are%20with%20the%20honor%20guard%20and%20the%20sea%20of%20blue%20honoring%20Woodbury.%20%28Rich%20Abrahamson%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) Dana Phillippi, a former Liberty Fire Department chief, said decades before the trend of regionalization, his friend Woodbury started a “jaws of life” service that served the region, responding to accidents to use those tools to cut people out of car wrecks. Woodbury could always be counted upon, Phillipi said, and served without ego, concerned only for his community, not himself. Upon seeing the hundreds of volunteer and professional firefighters at the service, Phillippi’s wife, Gail, who also served as a firefighter, , said, “It could have been any of us.” Advertisement The Rev**.**Warren Heath, who officiated the ceremony, said people were there to honor both Woodbury, and firefighters who run toward danger to protect the public when others run from it. “There are heroes all around you here today,” Heath said. State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said Woodbury never sought recognition. “He simply showed up when people needed help.” Esler noted 60% of Maine firefighters are volunteers, like Woodbury. “They leave their families, farms, jobs, businesses, all behind at a moment’s notice, because they care about their communities,” Esler said. “Wayne embodied that.” Bagpipers led a procession of color and an honor guard into the high school gym, followed by hundreds of uniformed firefighters. They played a chilling rendition of “Amazing Grace” as Woodbury’s family, then the firefighters, walked out after the memorial. Chris Staples, a Searsmont selectman said Woodbury probably would have been uncomfortable with the amount of attention bestowed on him. While people could see how deeply Woodbury cared about the community, Staples said they didn’t see the countless hours he spent maintaining fire equipment and sharing his knowledge with younger firefighters in training sessions. “Wayne was a teacher, but he never called himself that,” Staples said. “He helped shape generations of firefighters because they had an opportunity to learn from him. And through thousands of calls, he helped make Belmont and Searsmont safer. That’s a legacy that will last forever.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [fire](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/fire/), [Fire Department](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/fire-department/), [kennebec journal](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/kennebec-journal/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/keith-edwards) [Keith EdwardsStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/keith-edwards) Keith Edwards covers the city of Augusta and courts in Kennebec County, writing feature stories and covering breaking news, local people and events, and local politics. He has worked at the Kennebec Journal. [More by Keith Edwards](https://www.pressherald.com/author/keith-edwards)