ROCKPORT — The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding an explosion at a business, Friday afternoon, May 31.

The departments, along with North East Mobile Health Services, were alerted to an explosion involving a 25-gallon fuel tank at 17 Rockville Street, Rockport Steel, at approximately 2:50 p.m. At the time, one person was reported as injured.

Following an investigation, the Fire Marshal’s Office determined that Sean Alan Rancourt, 39, of Waterville, was welding on a diesel fuel tank when it exploded. He received life-threatening injuries as a result of the explosion, according to the FMO later in the evening. He was treated on scene by local EMS providers but did not survive. Rancourt’s body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Officer in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted.

“North East Mobile Health Services responded with three ambulances out of concern for multiple victims from a reported blast that was heard and felt at our station,” said Jonathan N. Powers, Paramedic and 
Division Chief for NEMHS.

That station is 0.3 miles from the scene, according to the internet.

That ambulance service was dispatched at 2:48 p.m., and the first two paramedic ambulances arrived at 2:50 p.m. The third paramedic ambulance arrived at 2:53 p.m. The first Rockport Fire Department unit arrived shortly after the third ambulance, and firefighters assisted with packaging the severely injured patient. A second patient was evaluated by NEMHS staff on scene and did not wish to be transported.

At least three Camden-Rockport police officers also responded and, along with the fire chief, began the investigation while waiting for the Fire Marshal’s Office.

LifeFlight of Maine was started toward the region while the emergency medical personnel transported the person to the helipad at Pen Bay Medical Center. Ultimately, however, the patient did not go with the medical helicopter.

Rancourt, was employed at Rockport Steel through a work release program with the Maine Department of Corrections. In 2018, Rancourt began serving a sentence for aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, according to MDOC. His earliest possible release date would have been September 2024.

Consistent with MDOC policy the Attorney General’s Office, State Police, and Medical Examiner were notified of the death. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an account of the incident on June 1. The case remains open as of June 10, 2024.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com