Flags to be lowered in honor of Searsmont assistant fire chief on Wednesday

 A procession accompanying the remains of Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, 76, passes under a large flag held up by a crane in Searsmont on June 15. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer) Gov. Janet Mills ordered flags be lowered Wednesday in honor of Wayne Woodbury, Searsmont’s assistant fire chief who died from injuries sustained during the fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber last month.  Maine and United States flags will be lowered from sunrise to sunset statewide, and [funeral services](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/17/memorial-service-set-for-assistant-searsmont-fire-chief-who-died-sunday/) for Woodbury will take place at 1 p.m. at Belfast Area High School, the governor’s office said in a news release.  Related [Memorial set for assistant Searsmont fire chief who died Sunday](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/17/memorial-service-set-for-assistant-searsmont-fire-chief-who-died-sunday/) “Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury gave his life to protect his community, and his sacrifice and example will never be forgotten,” Mills said in the release. “On behalf of the people of Maine, I extend my deepest condolences to the Searsmont Fire Department, to his community, and to all impacted by this devastating loss.” Woodbury, 76, spent over 60 years volunteering as a firefighter, according to his [obituary](https://ripostafh.com/tribute/details/22057/Wayne-Woodbury/obituary.html#tribute-start). He was a longtime employee of Bath Iron Works, an outdoorsman and fisherman. He loved wildlife, nature and his two mischievous cats.  Related [Searsmont assistant fire chief dies from injuries following sawmill explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/14/searsmont-assistant-fire-chief-dies-from-injuries-following-sawmill-explosion/) Woodbury died June 14 while hospitalized at Maine Medical Center in Portland, and on June 15, firefighters and community members lined the streets to pay their respects when his body was transferred to Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast.  A dozen people were injured in the Searsmont explosion, and several remain hospitalized.  Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross, 27, also died as a result of the May 15 fire. Mills previously ordered flags be lowered for Cross on May 22. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [Searsmont explosion](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/searsmont-explosion/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/salome-clotreaux) [Salomé CloteauxStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/salome-clotreaux) Salomé Cloteaux is a community reporter covering Scarborough and Westbrook. She was born in France but lived in Indiana for most of her life before moving to Portland in November 2025. Salomé has a degree. [More by Salomé Cloteaux](https://www.pressherald.com/author/salome-clotreaux)