Robbins Lumber Co-Owner Alden Robbins Dies July 2, Raising Explosion Death Toll to Three

Alden J. Robbins, vice president of sales for Robbins Lumber, died Thursday, July 2, nearly seven weeks after a fire and explosion at the company's Searsmont, Maine, mill left a dozen people injured and the surrounding Midcoast community shaken. The Robbins family confirmed the death in a statement released Friday afternoon, according to the Bangor Daily News.

"It is with profound sadness that the Robbins family announces the passing of Alden J. Robbins, who died on July 2, 2026, from injuries sustained in the tragic accident at Robbins Lumber on May 15, 2026," the family said. "We are heartbroken by the loss of a beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend."

His death raises the official fatality count to three.

What Happened on May 15

Investigators determined the fire was accidental, according to the Kennebec Journal. A blaze started in the mill's woodchip bagging building and spread to a sawdust silo. Dust inside the silo ignited, lifting the structure and dropping it back in a ball of flame that engulfed firefighters and mill workers working to contain the original fire. More than 100 first responders answered the call.

Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross, 27, was killed in the immediate explosion. Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, 76, died of his injuries roughly a month later. Alden Robbins is the third fatality.

The Bangor Daily News reported that a dozen people were injured overall, making this one of Maine's worst industrial disasters in recent memory.

Family Members Still Hospitalized

Alden Robbins was one of three family members injured when the silo exploded. His brother Jim A. Robbins, co-owner and company president, and Alden's daughter Lily Robbins, a local EMT who was at the mill when the blast occurred, are both believed to remain hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston as of July 5, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Alden's father, former company president James Robbins, was NOT injured in the explosion.

Governor Janet Mills addressed the ongoing toll in her statement Friday evening. "My heart is with his family, including his father and former company President James Robbins, Alden's wife, Amy, and their six children — among them daughter Lily, who continues to battle injuries she sustained during the same fire," Mills said, according to the Kennebec Journal.

A Survivor Released the Same Day

The Robbins family's announcement came hours after Belmont firefighter Katherine Paige was released from MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to both the Bangor Daily News and the Kennebec Journal. Paige suffered severe burns and had four fingers amputated during her treatment, along with skin grafts on her hands. She walked out of the hospital Friday afternoon to what the Kennebec Journal described as a hero's welcome in Belmont.

At least one other injured responder, Searsmont Rescue Chief Sarah Tompkins, remains hospitalized, according to the Kennebec Journal.

The Family's Tribute

"Alden was the heart of our family in so many ways, and nothing mattered more to him than the people he loved," the Robbins family said. "Throughout his battle, he fought with extraordinary courage and determination, holding on so that his family could have precious time with him. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved him."

The family thanked medical teams at Maine Medical Center and the Sumner Redstone Burn Center at Massachusetts General Hospital for care that "went far beyond what could ever have been expected."

Governor Mills called Robbins a leader in Maine's lumber industry and a steward of a historic business, according to the NY Post and the Kennebec Journal. Robbins Lumber has deep roots in the region. James Robbins, Alden's father, served as company president before the next generation took over.

The family asked for privacy as they grieve and said a celebration of Alden Robbins' life will be arranged and announced at a later date.

Whether the findings of the accidental-cause investigation will prompt any review of industrial dust-explosion safety standards at rural Maine sawmills remains unclear. Also uncertain is whether Jim and Lily Robbins, both still at Massachusetts General as of July 5, will be able to return to the family business that has defined the Searsmont community for generations.