Four Campus Buildings Will Be Closed Until Monday After Fire, Power Outage

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 4, 2019) — Four buildings near the center of the University of Kentucky campus will be closed until Monday after a damaged transformer caused a fire in one of the structures Thursday morning, resulting in a power outage impacting several facilities.

About 10 a.m. Thursday morning, a transformer in Bowman Hall caught fire, causing a power outage in that facility, as well as a number of buildings along Rose Street. Power was quickly restored to most facilities, UK officials said. The small fire was contained to the basement of Bowman Hall.

However, power remained out in Bowman as well as three other buildings that comprise the quad in central campus. Breckinridge, Kincaid and Bradley halls also were impacted and are currently without power.

There were no injuries in the fire, nor has there been any significant structural damage reported to Bowman Hall or the other buildings. UK Physical Plant workers are working to replace the transformer, along with high voltage wiring, that was damaged. 

An emergency generator is being brought onsite to protect research equipment located in some of the buildings. The four buildings that comprise the quad house some research initiatives as well as programs that include international education, the College of Design and the Center for Research on Violence Against Women.

Administrators with impacted programs will be contacting employees regarding work schedules for the remainder of the week.