The town of Searsmont will create a fund to support people affected by the Robbins Lumber fire and explosion that killed one firefighter and injured at least a dozen other people on Friday.
The town’s select board voted unanimously on Monday to establish the Robbins Lumber Fire Relief Fund and allow the town clerk to accept donations. The town will create a committee to develop and establish criteria for distributing the money, though many details still need to be worked out.
At the meeting, Select Board member Chris Davis said that Searsmont and surrounding communities are hurting. The town’s third select board member, Hubert McCabe, resigned on Monday morning. His partner, Sarah Tompkins, is the town’s Emergency Medical Services director and was injured in the fire. She remains hospitalized at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland.
“It’s been a tough time,” Davis said, tearing up. “It’s hit the town pretty hard.”
In addition to Tompkins, three members of Searsmont’s fire department, Chief James Ames, Assistant Chief Wayne Woodbury and firefighter Thomas Wolf were injured in the fire, according to state officials.
Woodbury and Wolf remain hospitalized at MaineHealth Medical Center.
Liliane Robbins, a member of the town’s EMS department and of the Robbins family that owned the mill, is being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital’s burn center, according to a statement from Robbins Lumber.
Two of the mill’s owners, Jim Robbins and Alden Robbins, were also injured in the fire and are being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital’s burn center, the company said.
Wolf is also employed by the mill. Another worker, John Ward, was treated and released.
Speaking at the meeting, Davis thanked the public for their support. The town will determine at a later date whether to hold a special election to fill McCabe’s vacant seat.
“The town of Searsmont would like to thank everybody who has helped us in this time of need and pain,” he said.
