More than 8,000 people went without power as wind gusts swept Maine, knocking down branches and trees, and fueling two small fires.

Central Maine Power spokesman Kevin Howes said an estimated 8,400 customers didn’t have electricity Saturday night, with the bulk in the Skowhegan-Farmington area.

Farmington had 1,550 affected homes. The Bridgton area had 250. Lewiston had 100.

Crews would work until the power is restored, Howes said.

In other wind-related incidents, gusts knocked a tree and wires down in front of 414 Pond Road in Lewiston as Heidi Mitchell of Lewiston was driving by after 4 p.m., said Sgt. David St. Pierre. The limbs struck her car after bouncing off the pavement, causing an estimated $500 damage to the 1997 vehicle.

A fallen tree blocked Summit Spring Road in Poland for some time, said Sgt. Dan McGinley at Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office. Another tree knocked down a power line on Lafrinea Road and lit grass on fire. It burned half an acre, he said, with no serious damage.

In Peru, the wind ignited a smoldering ground fire across the street from 379 East Shore Road. It burned for several hours, and it took dirt, foam and 3,200 gallons of water to put out, said Sgt. Tim Holland with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. He is also assistant chief of the Peru Fire Department. As many as three hot spots burned throughout the afternoon, he said.

George Wiseman, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, said winds Saturday hit the 20 to 30 mph range with gusts up to 45 mph.