SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police are looking for a person who cut 12,000-volt Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wires near Lake Merced Friday, causing an outage, a flash fire and possible major injuries to the person.

Police, fire and PG&E officials responded to the grass fire just after 1 p.m. at 655 John Muir Drive, where it was apparent someone tried to cut close to the base of the wires, said fire Lt. Ken Smith.

"We're not talking about the line that goes from the street to your house," Smith said. "These lines are some major power lines."

Much of the power pole was burned before firefighters put the fire out.

PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said it looked like the person was trying to steal the electrical wires, which caused an outage to 500 people in the area for a little more than an hour.

Investigators say the thief didn’t die outright, but ran along a fence, heading into a culvert, dropping evidence—like the hacksaw blade he used to cut the wire—along the way.

No injuries were reported but "it is apparent that someone has been severely injured," Smith said.

Arson investigators are also examining the situation.