A preliminary investigation by the Plum Creek Timber Co. has found that a “catastrophic bearing failure” on a raw material belt line caused Tuesday’s explosion at the company’s Columbia Falls’ medium density fiberboard plant, company officials tell the Beacon.

According to spokesperson Kate Tate, the bearing failure on the belt line ignited raw wood fibers and the belt itself. The fire then spread to insulation on a duct pipe above the line, which ignited wood fibers inside the pipe and caused a series of explosions. Tate said company officials would continue their investigation next week.

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COLUMBIA FALLS – Firefighters returned to the site of the Plum Creek Timber Co. explosion early Wednesday morning to fight a residual fire that flared up in a second building near the fiberboard plant. Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said the fire was buttoned up shortly after the 4 a.m. emergency response, but firefighters from his department will remain on standby as a precaution.

“We’re just here in case something flares up,” he said.

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The Columbia Falls fire chief says wood dust is the likely cause of Tuesday afternoon’s explosion and fire at the Plum Creek Timber Co.’s fiberboard plant. Company officials, however, say the cause of the blast is still under investigation.

“Fine wood is a combustible material and if you get a spark it will light just like natural gas,” Fire Chief Rick Hagen said Wednesday afternoon.

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