Thousands of people woke up in the dark this morning due to a widespread power outage in Meridian Township.
Consumers Energy shut the power off at the Lake Lansing substation around 4a.m. Tuesday morning, causing power to be knocked out in portions of Meridian Township, East Lansing and Bath Township. Traffic lights in those areas are out and police are warning drivers to them as a four-way stop.
An equipment failure on a utility pole near the Lake Lansing substation caught fire. The pole held up a feeder line to the substation and many distribution lines.
The power outage also forced Donley and Whitehills Elementary schools in East Lansing to close for the day. Murphy Elementary in Haslett had a two-hour delay.
Consumers Energy spokesman Terry DeDoes tells Fox 47 News power should fully be restored by 10:15a.m.