Explosion at Texas Tech causes fire and smoke to billow out of manholes on campus

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD/Gray News) - An explosion at a substation at Texas Tech University caused fire and smoke to billow out from manholes on campus, prompting school officials to evacuate buildings and cancel classes.

“Oh, it was absolutely insane. Because when I had left my dorm, there was a big thing of smog,” Gianna Bass, a Texas Tech student, told KCBD.

Bass initially thought it may be a dust storm before noticing smoke rising from a manhole cover.

According to Lubbock Fire Rescue, they first received reports of a gas leak in the Engineering Key area of campus Wednesday evening.

When crews arrived, they found multiple manholes belching with smoke and fire. Students on campus reported hearing loud booms as well.

“The power just went out. And the teachers told us we need to leave and evacuate the building,” Mazzy Rall said.

Rall was in a study session at a building on campus when they were told to evacuate. Once she and others were outside, she said they heard three loud booms then saw black smoke.

“I just thought … I just need to leave. You know, like get away from it all," she said.

Several buildings were evacuated after the explosion, which occurred in the Engineering Key area of campus.

Power was shut down for the entire campus as crews worked on repairs, according to Caitlyn Jefferies, a spokesperson for campus police.

“All the power was out. And then everyone ... people start running outside and everything. It’s really freaky,” another student, Katie Duncan, said.

Students were eventually allowed back into their residence halls Wednesday night, however, campus police advised the public and unofficial personnel to avoid campus. Faculty were also asked to not return to campus for their belongings.

No injuries were reported, according to Lubbock Fire Rescue.

School officials canceled classes for Thursday and Friday, announcing that the university’s spring break would start early.

“You can go ahead and go home for spring break. We are closing school down for the next couple of days,” Jefferies said in a briefing.

Campus police did advise students to wait till the morning to leave for spring break to avoid traveling at night.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion remains ongoing.

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