It was the sound of three “booms” and then the lights went out, at approximately 9 a.m.

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A center section of Bluffton is without electrical power this morning. The outage covers the area between Main, Grove, Lawn and Elm. The two largest areas affected are all businesses on the west side of Main Street and the Bluffton elementary, middle and high school.

The stoplight at the intersection of Main and Cherry is also out of power.

The cause is a power pole behind Bluffton High School that exploded. (See the photo.) The explosion caught the pole on fire and a small flame could be seen on the pole from the street. It resembled a flickering candle.

Greg Denecker, Bluffton school superintendent, was on the scene and was in contact with AEP officials.

When this story was posted at 9:50 a.m. AEP was not yet on the scene and there is estimate on when the power will come back on to the outed area.