Texas Tech Closes Campus Ahead of Spring Break After Fires and Explosion

Texas Tech Closes Campus Ahead of Spring Break After Fires and Explosion

Texas Tech University's Lubbock campus will remain closed on Thursday, Friday, and throughout next week for spring break after an explosion in a manhole led to multiple fires across the campus on Wednesday evening. The incident caused power outages and prompted evacuations, as confirmed by university officials on Wednesday night.

Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec sent an email to the campus community late Wednesday, addressing the explosion and fire in the university's tunnel system.

"Dear Texas Tech Family,
On Wednesday evening (March 12), an explosion occurred in a tunnel, causing a fire that spread and led to campus-wide power outages. Electricity and gas were shut down across both the Texas Tech and Health Sciences Center campuses to prevent further spread of the fire. The fire was extinguished by Wednesday evening," Schovanec wrote.

He added that campus infrastructure is being thoroughly checked for safety, and power is gradually being restored. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

To allow time for these safety checks, the campus will be closed on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14. All classes are canceled, and non-essential staff are asked to work remotely. Human Resources will follow up with further details regarding work arrangements.

Schovanec expressed gratitude to campus emergency responders and city services, including Lubbock Fire Rescue, Lubbock Police, and Lubbock Power & Light, for their efforts to ensure campus safety.

Updated at 10:45 p.m.: Fire and Police Provide Updates
In a news conference after 10 p.m., Texas Tech police and Lubbock Fire Rescue officials provided further details, advising the public to stay clear of the campus as the situation remained active.

Caitlynn Jeffries, a public information officer for Texas Tech Police, confirmed that the explosion occurred around 7 p.m. in a manhole near the Engineering Key, located near the 900 block of Boston Avenue.

“This explosion caused a power outage across the Texas Tech campus, including the Health Sciences Center,” Jeffries stated. “We evacuated the Engineering Key area, and we ask the public to avoid the campus while emergency operations continue.”

Lubbock Fire Rescue Captain John Tunnell confirmed that fire crews quickly identified additional manholes with active fires. He emphasized that this remains an ongoing situation, with crews working alongside Texas Tech officials to mitigate the emergency.

No injuries have been reported, and power has been shut down across campus as of late Wednesday. The cause of the explosion and fires remains unclear, though they are believed to be connected to the extensive tunnel system that runs under the campus, carrying utilities.

Updated at 10:20 p.m.: Infrastructure Fires Lead to Campus Closure Before Spring Break
Texas Tech officials confirmed that the campus would close on Thursday and Friday, ahead of the scheduled spring break next week, following multiple fires near manhole covers and an explosion at a power substation. The fires and explosion triggered evacuations in the central campus area and caused widespread power outages across both the main campus and the Health Sciences Center.

Updated at 9:50 p.m.: Explosion Causes Power Outages and Evacuations
An explosion at a manhole resulted in power outages and evacuations across the Texas Tech and Health Sciences Center campuses, according to a campus notification. The Engineering Key area was evacuated, and the public was urged to avoid the area. The exact cause of the explosion has not been determined, though it initially appeared to be linked to a power substation explosion.

Updated at 8:45 p.m.: Texas Tech Police Provide Updates
Caitlynn Jeffries, a public information officer for the Texas Tech Police Department, confirmed that an explosion at a substation led to widespread power outages on campus. The Engineering Key was evacuated, and the public was urged to stay clear of campus. Power was shut off to facilitate repairs.

Original Story: Emergency Response and Utility Outage
The incident began with reports of gas odors and a utility outage on campus. Lubbock Power & Light's outage map indicated a forced outage affecting about 40 customers, including those on the Texas Tech campus. The cause of the outage has yet to be confirmed.

The university’s emergency operations center was activated, and the campus was notified of the ongoing situation. No injuries have been reported, and authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and fire.

Students have been instructed to head home early for spring break, and campus will remain closed on Thursday and Friday, ahead of the regularly scheduled break. Students living in on-campus residence halls are advised to delay their departure until Thursday morning and can contact university services for assistance. Faculty and staff should work remotely, if possible, until further notice.

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