An East Lawrence electrical transformer explosion caught about 40 feet of grass on fire and caused more than 50 power outages in the area Wednesday afternoon.

Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller reported to dispatch that a power line at 840 E. 13th St. had caused a grass fire. Others called dispatch to report a sound of an explosion, Lawrence Police Department spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

Westar Energy arrived shortly after as firefighters were putting out the fire, dispatchers said. Westar’s online power outage map shows that between 51 and 500 homes were without power near the blown transformer near 13th and Oregon streets.

A Westar representative said she could not narrow down the number of homes affected any more than the 51-to-500 number.

Power was restored by Wednesday evening.