Searsmont assistant fire chief dies from injuries following sawmill explosion

Searsmont’s assistant fire chief has died following injuries he sustained from the fiery explosion at a sawmill last month. Wayne Woodbury, 76, died Sunday morning while hospitalized at Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to the Office of State Fire Marshal. Woodbury was among several local firefighters and emergency responders who responded to the fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont on May 15. “The Office of State Fire Marshal extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the members of the Searsmont Fire Department during this difficult time,” the department said in a statement Sunday. “The investigation into the Robbins Lumber fire remains ongoing.” Investigators [determined the cause of the fire](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/26/investigators-rule-robbins-lumber-fire-as-accidental/) was accidental and believe it stemmed from an area near the base of a silo that exploded, killing one and injuring a dozen others that day. Woodbury becomes the second death linked to the explosion. Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross, 27, died while responding to the May 15 fire. Advertisement Related [Inside the Searsmont lumber mill fire and explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/22/inside-the-searsmont-lumber-mill-fire-and-explosion/) In the [days following the explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/18/3-members-of-robbins-family-several-others-still-hospitalized-days-after-searsmont-mill-explosion/), eight people who were injured in the explosion — including Woodbury — were still hospitalized. Woodbury will be transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta Sunday, Liberty Fire and Rescue said. Details on a dignified transfer of remains to Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast are yet to be announced, but will occur sometime Monday. The department is requesting all available agencies to participate in the transfer by lining Waldo Avenue as was done for Cross in May. “This loss is felt throughout the entire fire service community,” Thorndike Fire Department said in a statement Sunday. “The courage, dedication, and selfless service displayed by Assistant Chief Woodbury will never be forgotten. His commitment to protecting others exemplified the very best of the fire service.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [Searsmont explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/searsmont-explosion/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/isabelle-oss) [Isabelle OssStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/isabelle-oss) Isabelle Oss is a community reporter covering Kittery, Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, York and Ogunquit. Born and raised in Colorado, she moved to Maine in April 2026. Isabelle holds a master’s. [More by Isabelle Oss](https://www.pressherald.com/author/isabelle-oss)