The initially thought a transformer might have blown, but now there not so sure. A Westar Energy power pole caught fire and somehow was cut. That led to numerous power outages in the Hutchinson area Friday afternoon. 

Police Sgt. Thad Pickard says they were notified of a pole or line arching in the area of 4 th & Van Buren earlier this afternoon and when they arrived, there was fire along the pole and also along the ground pole for the transformer. He says that top part of the pole was just hanging by the wires. 

Police closed off Van Buren from 4 th to 5 th and Fourth Street from Whiteside east to over the large bridge. 

As of 4:15 p-m, there were 3-thousand, 786 customers without power according to the Westar Energy website, but Westar Energy Spokesperson Erin Low says they expected to have every one back up within the next few hours. 

Workers for the company were still working at the scene this afternoon. 

Pickard says it did cause a headache for them with numerous traffic lights not working, meaning officers were having to work intersections around town.