Texas Tech University officials are working to determine the cause of an explosion at a campus substation that sent green flames shooting from manhole covers and triggered a campus-wide power outage. The incident, which occurred Wednesday evening near the Engineering Key, led to the temporary evacuation of students, class cancellations, and widespread disruptions.
Timeline of Events
The emergency began around 6:40 p.m. on March 12, when the Texas Tech Police Department received initial reports of power outages across campus. Just minutes later, Lubbock Power & Light (LP&L) detected a fault in one of the circuits servicing the northern and eastern sections of the university.
By 6:57 p.m., reports escalated as students and faculty witnessed smoke rising from manholes around the Engineering Key. Shortly after, fire and rescue teams arrived on the scene.
At 7:12 p.m., Texas Tech sent out an emergency alert to students and staff about the power outage. This was followed by an evacuation order for Engineering Key at 7:30 p.m., as more circuits began failing, affecting a total of 123 meters on campus.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as surreal, with pillars of green flames erupting from underground tunnels. Social media was quickly flooded with videos showing the eerie glow lighting up the night sky.
By 8 p.m., LP&L manually began shutting down circuits to prevent further damage, affecting an estimated 3,449 customers in Lubbock. However, city crews restored power to most off-campus residents shortly after.
Around the same time, an explosion was reported at the LP&L Brandon Substation on campus, further complicating the situation. Firefighters were able to extinguish all flames by 9:09 p.m., but concerns over lingering natural gas readings and underground electrical fires kept portions of campus closed.
Authorities began allowing students back into dorms at 11:11 p.m., but the damage was already done—Texas Tech announced campus-wide closures for Thursday and Friday, effectively starting spring break early.
Investigation Underway
As of Thursday afternoon, officials still had no definitive cause for the explosion and fires. The State Fire Marshal's Office has taken the lead in investigating the incident, with Texas Tech, LP&L, and Lubbock Fire Rescue assisting.
Nick Wilson, assistant fire chief for Lubbock Fire Rescue, noted that copper wiring burns green, likely explaining the unusual color of the flames. However, the presence of natural gas readings in underground vaults remains a concern.
Matt Rose, a spokesperson for LP&L, suggested that Lubbock’s extreme weather may have played a role in weakening infrastructure over time. He mentioned that LP&L crews had conducted maintenance in the area just a week prior but had not detected any major issues.
Campus Operations and Student Impact
With 40% of campus buildings still without power, Texas Tech has been working to accommodate displaced students. Many were placed in hotels, while local businesses, including H-E-B and United Supermarkets, donated food and resources.
University President Lawrence Schovanec assured students that Texas Tech is committed to restoring power as soon as possible but offered no timeline for when normal operations will resume.
Key Impacts:
Classes and activities canceled through Friday, March 14
Spring break started early for students
Some campus buildings remain without power
Brooks & Dunn concert postponed to March 20
NCAA Selection Sunday watch party uncertain
Officials say they will continue providing updates through push notifications, social media, and the Texas Tech website.
While students head home for spring break, emergency crews remain on-site, racing against the clock to ensure campus is safe before classes resume. However, the full extent of the damage remains unknown, and it could be days—if not weeks—before the university returns to normal.
