Duluth Fire Department investigators have identified the origin but not the exact cause of the massive fire on Duluth's waterfront that destroyed a wood-products warehouse, several boats and heavy equipment on Friday.
Interim Fire Marshal Marnie Grondahl said the fire originated in a waste conveyor machine housed in the shingle manufacturing building at True North Cedar, a wood-products manufacturer off 14th Avenue West and Railroad Street.
"I couldn't say for sure whether it was an electrical short or overheating," Grondahl said. "But it was the only ignition source in that room."
Grondahl said the conveyor had a buildup of excelsior -- the waste that comes from the very thin shavings of cedar from the shingles and is very combustible.
An assistant fire chief estimated the loss at $100,000 to the building and $300,000 to its contents.
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No one was injured in the blaze.
