Fires and smoke burst out of manholes at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday night, causing evacuations and mass power outages. Officials confirmed that no one was injured, but the situation was “very active.”
Firefighters Respond to Manhole Fires
Lubbock Fire Rescue was alerted to a potential gas leak on the Texas Tech campus at approximately 7 p.m. Firefighters found several manholes with burning fire and smoke when they arrived. Green and yellow fire burst out of the manholes in videos shot on the scene, along with thick smoke.
Texas Tech University subsequently confirmed that a manhole explosion was the cause of the fire, resulting in power outages on both the main campus and the Health Sciences Center.
Campus Evacuations and Closures
The university ordered an evacuation of the Engineering Key area after the explosion and recommended that students and employees stay away from the affected area.
As a precaution, Texas Tech confirmed that the campus would be kept closed on Thursday and Friday effectively beginning Spring Break early for the students. Those living on-campus were encouraged to postpone their exits until daylight in order to safely leave.
Authorities Urge Caution
The Lubbock Fire Department ensured that emergency teams were continuously monitoring the incident and trying to evaluate the cause of the explosion. Though there were no reported injuries, authorities called for avoiding the affected area.
The activity on campus was disrupted by the incident, but authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion. There will be more updates as officials seek to reestablish power and guarantee campus safety.
