All clear issued after TCU evacuates buildings due to gas leak on campus Monday morning

TCU evacuated several buildings on campus Monday morning due to a gas leak, according to an emergency alert sent to students and staff.

The leak has since been fixed and the all-clear sent out to students, a university spokesperson told the Star-Telegram.

The alert message told everyone to evacuate Jarvis Hall, Ed Landreth Hall and Auditorium, Foster Hall and Waits Hall and to avoid the surrounding area while emergency personnel responded to the leak. Jarvis and Ed Landreth are classroom buildings, while Foster and Waits are dorms.

Atmos Energy crews were at the university Monday morning doing maintenance and repairs when a gas line ruptured, according to Holly Ellman, a spokesperson for TCU. The Fort Worth Fire Department was called to the scene and people were told to evacuate and stay away from the affected buildings.

The fire department told the Star-Telegram in an email Monday that crews responded around 11:21 a.m. to a call about the leak at Waits Hall, at 3105 W Cantey St. Fire personnel noticed a faint smell of gas when they arrived and immediately called for hazmat teams to respond. They pulled fire alarms in the buildings to make sure everybody got out.

The building was ventilated by TCU police, the fire department and Atmos after the gas was shut off, according to the fire department. The buildings are now safe to enter.

Atmos told the Star-Telegram in an emailed statement Monday that while the buildings are now safe to enter, crews are still on scene doing repairs and residents should expect delays and look for alternate routes.

This story was originally published April 15, 2024 at 12:10 PM.