A devastating explosion in Maine rocked the small rural community of Searsmont on Friday morning, where a fire at a sawmill claimed the life of a volunteer firefighter and left at least 10 people injured, including several in critical condition.

The fatal victim was identified as Andrew Cross, 27, a member of the Morrill Fire Department, as reported by News Center Maine. The young rescuer was transferred with honors on Saturday from the medical examiner's office to a local funeral home.

Fire spread to a silo that exploded

The fire started shortly after 10 a.m. Friday at a lumber plant in Searsmont, a small town northeast of Portland.

Ben Hamel, purchasing manager for the sawmill, told the Bangor Daily News that the flames originated in an area where wood chips were being packaged.

The fire later reached a wood dust silo, which exploded violently.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the official cause of the accident.

Maine State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler described the emergency as an extremely complex scene due to the magnitude of the fire and the limited amount of resources available in the rural area.

“The number of buildings engulfed in flames and limited resources made the situation very chaotic,” he declared during a news conference.

Esler also highlighted the joint work of volunteer firefighters, state police, forestry personnel and other emergency agencies that collaborated to contain the fire.

The Thorndike Fire Department reported that several fire trucks were also destroyed by the flames.

There are several injured in critical condition

Among those injured was Katherine Paige, a lieutenant with the Northport Maine Volunteer Fire Department.

Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Shannon Moss indicated that some of the victims were taken to hospitals in critical condition.

Meanwhile, emergency teams remain working in the area due to the risk of new incidents.

According to local reports, a state agent warned at the scene that there was a “large fuel leak,” so he asked residents and onlookers to stay away from the area.

The governor of Maine, Janet Mills, reported that she was notified about the emergency and asked the population to follow the instructions of the authorities.

“I ask the people of Maine to keep all those affected in their thoughts,” he said in a post on X.

Congressman Jared Golden also expressed his condolences and support for the rescuers and workers affected.

The investigation into the explosion in Maine continues by state and federal authorities.