MaineHealth Update on Searsmont Patients

PORTLAND, Maine - MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland continues to treat eight patients who were injured in the Searsmont incident. 

Two patients who were taken to the hospital on Friday, May 15, were treated and transferred.

No further updates are planned for this evening, but updates will be provided on Sunday as they become available. Patient privacy laws limit what can be shared at this time, and we would defer to law enforcement and other officials involved in the investigation for any additional information.

BREAKING: Area Departments Responding To Fire & Possible Explosion at Searsmont Lumber Mill

Update: 4:04pm: Officials say at least 10 people, including firefighters, have been injured after an explosion and massive fire at a lumber mill in Searsmont. The Thorndike Fire Department says multiple fire trucks have also been destroyed.

According to WGME, the fire started in the wood shavings area where they are packaged in plastic bags than extended to a silo which caused a explosion.

Update 12:15pm: Statement from Rep. Chellie Pingree; My heart is with the Searsmont community as officials respond to a reported mass casualty incident at Robbins Lumber.

Details are still limited. Please follow updates from local authorities, avoid the area, and keep those impacted and the first responders in your thoughts.

Update: At least 7 people have been transported to area hospitals in critical condition. One of the people have been transported by LifeFlight.

BREAKING: Searsmont, Maine - We're getting word that multiple area departments are responding to fire and possible explosion at Searsmont lumber mill Robbins Lumber on Friday, May 15th, 2026 in Searsmont, Maine.

Fire departments from the region have responded to the scene including Knox departments Rockport, Camden, Rockland and Thomaston.

Multiple injuries reported.

Fire marshal units have been called to scene.

Stay with us for further updates.

BREAKING NEWS: Two Alarm Fire at Park Street Grill In Rockland

Updated 12:15 The original call came in as smoke showing from the roof.  Upon arrival of Rockland fire units it was upgraded to a two alarm.  Ladder units from Camden and Thomaston as well as units from Rockport and South Thomaston responded.  All units have now cleared the scene. The video is processing and should be ready in the next half hour.

Updated 11:52- The situation is under control and Rockland has released all mutual aid units. However traffic is all tied up in downtown Rockland and should be avoided if possible.

Rockland, Maine- Fire units from across the Mid Coast area are battling a two alarm fire at the Park Street Grill at Park and Maine Streets in Rockland.  Video to follow as soon as it is ready.

BREAKING NEWS....Cushing, Mutual Aid Fire Departments Battling Broad Cove Market Fire

UPDATE 6:30pm: Fire units are clearing the scene. Building has heavy damage inside.
UPDATE 4:37pm Command requesting fire marshal's office to be notified. 
UPDATE 4:26pm: Command is requesting more man power from Rockland Fire Department. Waldoboro requested from Friendship for station coverage.
BREAKING NEWS....Cushing, Maine -  Cushing, Friendship, Thomaston, Warren Fire Departments battling a fire at 14 River Rd, Broad Cove Market in Cushing, Maine on Sunday, April 16th, 2017, call toned out around 3:45pm.

Flames showing, River Rd shut down according to unit on scene.

Stand by......

BREAKING NEWS: Fire Units Responding To 166 Elm Street South Thomaston Structural Fire (FIRE OUT)

UPDATE 4:37pm...Fire is out according to command, units are clearing the scene.

What quick work from the fire fighters who responded.
UPDATE 4:25.....Owls Head has been cleared by command. 
UPDATE....St. George Fire Department requested to stage at South Thomaston station.
BREAKING NEWS....South Thomaston, - South Thomaston and area fire departments are responding to 166 Elm Street South Thomaston, Maine for a structural fire on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017.

According to fire unit on scene, heavy smoke on side b.

Along with South Thomaston, Rockland, St. George, Thomaston and Owls Head Fire Departments have been toned out.

Stay tuned.....

BREAKING: Explosion and Fire Reported in Union.

The state fire marshall and crews from across Knox county are on the scene of a reported explosion and fire on Sunk Haze Ln in Union.
The call came into Knox Dispatch just after 3 AM this morning.  Few details are available but eye witnesses state the house was destroyed.

www.shootmainestudios.com

BREAKING: Bangor & Brewer Fire Departments Battling Family Dollar Fire

Photo Credit Dan Frye/WLBZ

UPDATE: It appears that there is still smoke, no fire according to Bangor fire.


BREAKING...Bangor, Maine - The Bangor and Brewer fire department is battling a fire on State street in Bangor, Maine at Family Dollar that was called in at 10:22am.


From Bangor fire there is heavy black smoke coming from the building, The awning appears to be where some of the fire is.


Stay tuned for more updates....

UPDATED BREAKING NEWS: Two Alarm Fire in Thomaston Heavily Damages Laundry Building Serving Greenfield Village Apartments

Thomaston Fire Department is responding to a two alarm structure fire at 26 Brooklyn Heights Road in Thomaston . Rockland is also sending aid to the fire which started in the laundry room and was fully involved when the fire chief arrived.

11:54 AM The fire is knocked down and units are doing overhaul.

1:50PM The fire left a laundry building serving residents of Greenfield Village was heavily damaged by smoke and water. Thomaston has called in the State's fire marshal office to help determining the cause which appears to have been started by a cardboard stack in the back of the building.

Rockland sent a fire engine to aid Thomaston with the fire.

BEST OF 2013: The Glass Eye: FIRE!

FIRE!
The Glass Eye: Seeing the world through the lens of a camera.
By Doug Mills

Since the dawn of time fire has warmed a cold night, or given light in the dark.  It has been mans servant to cook his food or to propel him to the moon.  It is,however, not a tame creature.  This same fire that warms a cool fall evening or lights a romantic dinner if turned loose will destroy everything in it's path!  This past weekend I had the opportunity to watch this beast turned loose under the watchful eye of the local fire department.  As a photographer this was the opportunity of a lifetime to watch the beast turned loose on a vacant building.
Every one who has ever tried to shoot at night knows that it presents some interesting challenges,  add to that growing darkness the brightness of an out of control fire and you have a photographers nightmare or the shoot of a lifetime!

Setting the beast loose.

Under the watchful eye of the professionals.

Setting up.

Whenever you are shooting look around sometimes there are some great shots sitting just behind you.

  The Fire Tornado or Fire Devil
When shooting always watch for the unusual.  As I was shooting I noticed the rare Fire tornado, formed by the heat of the fire and the cold air creating a mini tornado of fire.  In forest fire these fire tornadoes can get so strong they can uproot full grown trees!  When I first saw it on the roof I just stood there watching in awe.  I quickly came to my senses and started shooting.  The conditions were so that it spawned at least three of these Fire Tornadoes.

Grandeur of the Seas Fire!

Aircrew members aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft responed to a report of a fire aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Grandeur of the Seas, northwest of West End, Bahamas, May 27, 2013. The fire started on the third deck in the rear of the ship and stretched to the fourth deck with no reported injuries. U.S. Coast Guard Photo illustration.

Commercial Fishing Vessel Arctic Storm Experiences An Engine Room Fire.

Commercial fishing vessel Arctic Storm experiences an engine room fire approximately 32 miles west of Grays Harbor, Wash., May 20, 2013. CoastGuard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and 47-foot motor lifeboat crews oversaw the evacuation of 78 crew members after Arctic Storm's Halon firefighting system successfully extinguished the blaze.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Michael Wunderle

ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard continues to respond to an extinguished vessel fire approximately 30 miles west of Grays Harbor, Wash., Monday.

Crewmembers aboard the fishing vessel Arctic Storm successfully put out the fire using the Halon chemical firefighting system aboard the ship.

 A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria and two 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Station Grays Harbor monitored as good Samaritan vessels evacuated 78 of the 120 personnel aboard the fishing vessel. 42 crewmembers will remain aboard Arctic Storm to man the vessel. The 78 evacuated crewmembers were moved to commercial fishing vessels Northern Voyager, Golden Alaska, Sea Dawn and Excellence. Evacuated crewmembers are scheduled to be transported to Westport, Wash.

 A tug is enroute to tow the Arctic Storm to Aberdeen, Wash.

 Arctic Storm is reported to contain approximately 188,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

 No pollution or injuries have been reported. The Washington Department of Ecology was notified and is standing by to assist, if needed.

 The Coast Guard will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Good Samaritan Helps Rescue 3 From Shrimp Boat Fire Video

HOUSTON — Three men were brought to safety by a good Samaritan after the men's shrimp boat caught fire just north of the South Galveston Jetty, Friday.

The captain of the shrimp boat Angel Lady called the watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston at 10:04 a.m., reporting that the shrimp boat Capt. Hunter was on fire with three people aboard. The Coast Guard Cutter Manta was diverted and a boatcrew from Station Galveston was launched to assist. The station boatcrew arrived in about 10 minutes, but before they arrived on scene, a good Samaritan aboard a pleasure craft rescued the three crewmembers in distress.

The tug Lamar arrived on scene at 11:16 a.m. and extinguished the fire.

"Fire is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a boat out on the water," said Lt. Brian Sullivan, the command duty officer of Sector Houston-Galveston. "The fact that a good Samaritan put themselves in such a risky position to save lives is something we in the Coast Guard can definitely relate to."

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the fire.

In the case of a fire, the Coast Guard renders assistance as available, based on the level of personnel training and the adequacy of equipment. As Coast Guard units do not normally have advanced firefighting capabilities, firefighting operations are limited to those that would save a life or would avert a significant threat.

The Glass Eye: FIRE!

FIRE!
The Glass Eye: Seeing the world through the lens of a camera.
By Doug Mills

Since the dawn of time fire has warmed a cold night, or given light in the dark.  It has been mans servant to cook his food or to propel him to the moon.  It is,however, not a tame creature.  This same fire that warms a cool fall evening or lights a romantic dinner if turned loose will destroy everything in it's path!  This past weekend I had the opportunity to watch this beast turned loose under the watchful eye of the local fire department.  As a photographer this was the opportunity of a lifetime to watch the beast turned loose on a vacant building.
Every one who has ever tried to shoot at night knows that it presents some interesting challenges,  add to that growing darkness the brightness of an out of control fire and you have a photographers nightmare or the shoot of a lifetime!

Setting the beast loose.

Under the watchful eye of the professionals.

Setting up.

Whenever you are shooting look around sometimes there are some great shots sitting just behind you.

  The Fire Tornado or Fire Devil
When shooting always watch for the unusual.  As I was shooting I noticed the rare Fire tornado, formed by the heat of the fire and the cold air creating a mini tornado of fire.  In forest fire these fire tornadoes can get so strong they can uproot full grown trees!  When I first saw it on the roof I just stood there watching in awe.  I quickly came to my senses and started shooting.  The conditions were so that it spawned at least three of these Fire Tornadoes.