To the Maine Fire Service,

We would like to share some information that may be helpful for departments that have lumber mills, wood-product facilities, agricultural silos, or other similar storage structures within their response areas.

First and foremost, we want to honor Firefighter Cross and the first responders who were injured during the May 15, 2026, incident in Searsmont. Our thoughts remain with them, their families, their departments, and the entire fire service community.

We also want to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the many firefighters, EMS providers, law enforcement personnel, Fire Marshals Investigators, Maine Forest Service staff, dispatchers, public works personnel, and other responders who answered the call that day. Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to serving others under extremely challenging circumstances exemplify the very best of Maine’s first responder community. We are all very proud of your efforts and community dedication.

In the spirit of learning, preparedness, and firefighter safety, we are providing the following resources for your review and consideration as part of local training and pre-incident planning efforts. These materials contain information related to silo fires, wood-product storage fires, incident assessment, and operational considerations that may assist departments in preparing for similar incidents in the future. Training, pre-planning, and understanding the unique hazards associated with these structures are critical components of risk reduction and responder safety. The attached materials reinforce the importance of pre-planning, identifying silo types, establishing strong incident management practices, and understanding the potential for confined space, structural collapse, and explosion hazards.

• SILO FIRE DECISION TREE (1)
• FutureMetrics White Paper – Preventing and Fighting a Fire in a Wood Pellet Storage Dome or Silo
• Fire Service Guide on Handling Fires in Farm Silos

Please understand that the purpose of sharing these resources is not to critique or second-guess any actions taken at the Searsmont incident. Rather, it is to provide information that may help all of us continue learning and preparing for the complex emergencies we may face in the future.

The Maine Fire Service Institute, Maine State Fire Marshals Office along with our partners, are actively exploring additional training opportunities and educational programs related to silo fires, agricultural emergencies, and large-scale industrial fire incidents. As these opportunities become available, we will be sure to share them with the fire service.

Thank you for your continued dedication to protecting the citizens of Maine and for your commitment to firefighter safety and professional development.  If you have any specific questions regarding training, please feel free to reach out.  Please share this email with your county associations and other fire service groups to assist us in getting this information out across the entire Maine Fire Service.

Stay safe, we need all of you.