LINCOLN — A local man was killed by an explosion in his basement on Stanhope Drive on Wednesday, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said.

 

The homeowner had been experimenting with explosives in recent months, according to family members and neighbors, McCausland wrote in a news release. The explosion took place at about 7 p.m. and the man’s body was found in the basement.

 

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maine State Police bomb team were in Lincoln Wednesday night to investigate and make sure the area was safe, McCausland said.

 

The initial assessment by fire marshals indicated there was little damage to the house. The name of the victim will likely be released Thursday, McCausland said.