Thunderstorm Causes Power Outages

An afternoon thunderstorm Saturday knocked out power to more than 2,000 customers in town, National Grid is reporting.

At about 5 p.m., police and firefighters went to the scene of a burning transformer struck by a fallen tree on Autran Avenue. The transformer was on fire but the fire was put out. People at the scene said there was heavy smoke as well.

The power went out in that area as a result. National Grid is at the scene, and according to reports, there are more than 2,000 customers without power in the area of town between Route 114 and Boxford (the area around Salem and Boxford streets and Sharpners Pond Road).

If your power goes out, call National Grid's power outage hotline at 1-800-465-1212.

Check back for further updates.

UPDATE: 6:40 p.m., National Grid crews are working on Dale Street, Winter Street and Foster Street. National Grid estimates restoration time in that area at 7:30 p.m.

UPDATE: 7:45 p.m., National Grid reporting almost all customers affected by the storm now have power.