High dust levels from unusually dry wood are suspected as possible contributors to two devastating B.C. sawmill explosions in the past four months.

A WorkSafeBC report written just weeks before an explosion and fire that killed two and levelled a sawmill in northern B.C. on Jan. 14 noted dust levels in the facility's basement were more than twice the acceptable level.

WorkSafeBC has released five years of inspection records for the Lakelands Mills sawmill in Prince George, B.C., the site of Monday's fatal explosion, which indicate dust levels have been a concern at the mill in the past.