Texas Tech University has announced it will be closed on Thursday and Friday, as well as for the entirety of next week during spring break, following a manhole explosion that ignited fires around campus on Wednesday night, leading to power outages and evacuations.
Texas Tech Police and Lubbock Fire Rescue provided updates during a press conference after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, urging the public to stay clear of campus as the situation remained ongoing.
Caitlynn Jeffries, a public information officer for Texas Tech Police, reported that the incident began around 7 p.m. with an explosion in a manhole near the engineering key at the heart of the campus. The explosion caused a campus-wide power outage, including at the Health Sciences Center. The engineering key was evacuated, and authorities requested that the public refrain from entering the area.
Lubbock Fire Rescue confirmed via social media that no injuries had been reported.
University President Lawrence Schovanec explained in an email sent to the campus community that the explosion occurred in a tunnel, triggering a fire. The blaze spread, resulting in power outages across campus. To contain the fire, electricity and gas were shut off at both Texas Tech and the Health Sciences Center campuses. The fire was extinguished later Wednesday evening, though the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
To ensure the safety of the campus community and conduct a thorough inspection of the infrastructure, Schovanec announced that campus would be closed on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, with all classes canceled. Non-essential personnel were instructed to work remotely, and Texas Tech System Administration employees were also advised to follow suit. Human Resources will provide further details regarding work arrangements.
An emergency notification on the university’s website sent at 11:11 p.m. on Wednesday confirmed that power was still out on campus, but barricades were being removed and students could return to the residence halls. A follow-up notification on Thursday morning indicated that some areas of campus had regained power, but the closure would remain in effect on Thursday and Friday. Students living on campus were informed they would receive further instructions regarding housing and dining options. The alert also reiterated that the area around the Engineering Key should still be avoided.
Lubbock Fire Rescue reported Thursday morning that rescue crews were continuing to monitor subsurface utility vaults and would remain on site until all potential hazards were addressed.
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