In a sawmill, fire broke out inside a bin containing 10 m³ of wood chips. The night watchman discovered the blaze during his rounds and attempted in vain to extinguish it before notifying fire-fighters. The fire spread first to the outer sawdust silo sidewalls, and then to the suction and air-sawdust (cyclone) separator circuit. According to the mill operator, an electrical short circuit on the motor of the auger overhanging the bin had caused this blaze. The expert appraisal found that a neon tube might have been the source. Failure to clean the suction installation for 2 years could have helped spread the fire. The operator adopted a regular cleaning schedule for all structures exposed to sawdust deposits, in addition to spraying water on the outer cyclone walls and refurbishing the electric motors (by improving their electrical protection).