SEARSMONT — Robbins Lumber, in Searsmont, is without one of its control rooms after a fire Saturday afternoon, Nov. 16, 2024. The room, which operates one of two kilns on the side of the property closest to Route 131, held computer equipment and controlled the air and heat, as well as held pipes from the boilers.

Despite being the newer of the two kiln structures, this is the second fire for this structure within the last year. In the 20 years that Searsmont Fire Chief James Ames can recall, the other structure has never prompted a fire department response.

While firefighters were still en route to 53 Ghent Road, Robbins employees were able to knock down the initial flames as well as pull away lumber from underneath the structure. That lumber had only been brought there yesterday, according to Ames.

Searsmont FD and ambulance received their first alert regarding the fire at 1:05 p.m. Their automatic Waldo County mutual aid partners, Montville, Lincolnville, and Morrill, were also alerted at that time, and their automatic Knox County mutual aid partner, Appleton, was alerted approximately 10 minutes later. Also receiving alerts were Liberty and Belfast (which was canceled while still en route).

Searsmont FD has a roster of 14 volunteers. And though many were out in the woods hunting when the call came in, the FD turnout was still pretty good, according to Ames.

The last remaining units cleared the scene after approximately an hour and 40 minutes before returning to the station for an additional 1 – 1.5 hours of cleaning equipment and returning that gear to its proper storage spaces.

Ames did not have a cause for the fire, though it appears to be accidental according to him.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com