Andrew Cross, the firefighter who was killed in the fire and explosion at the Robbins Lumber plant in Searsmont on Friday, was hardworking, community-minded and positive, according to people who knew him.
Cross, a volunteer firefighter in Morrill, was active in the community and would help at the fire station even on his days off, said Patrick Scribner, Morrill’s former fire chief, who helped train Cross as a firefighter.
“He was available to do anything we wanted,” Scribner said. “It didn’t matter, he would help load hoses on his day off. He was always, always willing.”
Cross, 27, was killed when a silo full of wood shavings exploded at the Robbins Lumber mill on Friday. More than a dozen other first responders and workers were injured in the incident, some of whom remained hospitalized with serious injuries
A public visitation for Cross will be held on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast. A memorial service will be held the next day, on Friday at 1 p.m. at Veracity Chapel in Morrill.
At the Morrill fire station, dozens of bouquets, firefighting gear and a deer antler were among the mementos left to honor Cross.
George Ross, who coached Cross on the Belfast Area High School baseball team, said his selfless actions on Friday were in keeping with his character.
“It didn’t surprise me a bit that he went running into that fire,” he said.
Cross, who was from Morrill, graduated high school in 2017, and also played soccer and was a member of the National Honor Society.
“Andrew was the kind of guy that every coach loved,” said Ross, who coached baseball at the high school until his retirement in 2018.
Cross thanked his coaches at the end of each practice, Ross said.
As a player, Cross was a bit of a “throwback” to a simpler time when high school players were less concerned with statistics, Ross said.
“He just played baseball for the love of the game,” Ross said. “He just wanted to be on the team and with his teammates and play.
In addition to his work as a volunteer firefighter, Cross worked at Bath Iron Works and owned his own business, A.R. Cross Trucking, where he did plowing, mowing and earthwork, according to his obituary which was published Tuesday by the Pen Bay Pilot.
Cross grew up “surrounded by a large, loving family” on land that had been in the family for generations, according to his obituary.
He was a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union local S6. Devin Ragnar, the local’s communicator said he didn’t know Cross personally but had only heard “positive things about him, and how kind and thoughtful he was.”
Cross was an avid hunter, fisherman and snowmobiler and recently bought a home. “He loved having family and friends gather for a big meal and share laughter and lots of stories,” his obituary said.
