18/05/2026
𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝟏𝟖 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐦. 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐇𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐞
There is a detail in this story that stops you cold. Morrill Fire Chief Dean Rowlands — the man who leads the department Andrew Cross dedicated himself to — was standing right beside him when it happened. The two of them were the first from Morrill to arrive at Robbins Lumber that Friday morning. They arrived together. Only one of them came home. The explosion that killed Andrew Cross happened just 15 minutes after they got there.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝
Fire Captain Brian Simmons of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department described Andrew as a staple of their town and department — someone he had known since Andrew was just a little kid growing up in Morrill. Chief Rowlands remembered him in the most simple and honest way a man can be remembered.
"Everybody liked him as soon as they met him," Rowlands said. "He comes from a really good family, a really tight-knit family."
Andrew worked the second shift at Bath Iron Works, which often left him free to respond to fire calls during the day. His colleagues said he leaves behind a legacy of service and sacrifice. He wasn't just filling a role. He was, in the words of the people who stood beside him, a true firefighter.
𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 — 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
Captain Simmons said Andrew was a go-getter who took safety seriously every time he stepped into a dangerous situation. "He was a true firefighter, really. I mean, safety, safety, safety. So, he was right there," Simmons said.
That is the heartbreaking truth of this story. Andrew Cross did everything right. He showed up. He was prepared. He cared deeply. And he was taken anyway — in an instant — by an explosion that gave nobody any warning.
𝐀 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
Senator Susan Collins, whose own staff member had known Andrew for years, said he was a kindhearted, hardworking Maine man who loved his family, his dogs and the people of his community — always seen with a smile on his face. She said his life is a shining example of the courage and selfless love found in towns and cities across this nation.
"Our first responders give more than we could ever repay," Collins said. "May Andrew's memory be a blessing." Irish Examiner
Funeral arrangements and memorial details will be shared as they become available. To the Cross family, to Chief Rowlands, to every firefighter who answered that call on Friday morning — this country sees you. This country thanks you. And this country will not forget Andrew.
Rest in peace, Andrew Cross. A true firefighter. A true American. 🇺🇸
