MINNEAPOLIS  — A strong thunderstorm knocked out power to thousands of customers in the Twin Cities metro area and may have ignited a house fire.

Xcel Energy made progress Tuesday in restoring service to more than 8,000 customers who lost power in the storm.

Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott said a lightning strike likely started a house fire shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday. Two adults and three children escaped the fire without injury after a neighbor spotted flames coming through the roof. Damage is estimated at $100,000.

Neighbors said they heard a loud clap of thunder about an hour before the fire was reported.