A large power outage has left much of Old St. Vital and Windsor Park in the dark this morning.

Nearly 8,000 customers are without power according to Manitoba Hydro

Witnesses reported to CHVN seeing a large green flash in Windsor Park around 4:50 a.m.

They described what they thought was sheet lightning at first, and then a larger and brighter flash over the area. The witness thought the cause was a pole fire, but was not certain.

Manitoba Hydro has now confirmed that a pole fire on Lagimodiere was the cause.

The outage has also taken out street lights and intersection controls along several major roads in the area including St. Mary's Rd., St. Anne's Rd., Archibald, St., and Fermor Ave.

The outage has affected customers from St. Mary's Rd. to the east Perimeter.

Manitoba Hydro asks all people experiencing an outage to report it by calling 204-480-5900.