Fire drill at Cross Harbour Tunnel

Quick and proper response to a tunnel fire incident has been achieved at a fire drill conducted at the Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT) today (July 5), beginning at 2am.

Speaking after the fire drill, a Transport Department (TD) spokesman said: "The regular fire drill aims to enhance communication, command, control and support functions of tunnel operators with parties concerned.

"Through the exercise, the tunnel staff can familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures in fire fighting, evacuation and vehicle recovery in case of a fire incident in the tunnel."

The spokesman said the tunnel staff had made response quickly and were able to fully comply with the procedural requirements under which the staff are required to wear smoke masks when entering the scene, use the fire host to control the fire, perform initial fire fighting, and eventually hand over the operation to the fire officers on their arrival.

He said: "It is very encouraging that the tunnel operator has responded and handled the fire incident effectively and efficiently in accordance with the established procedures."

Commenting on the performance of the franchised bus company staff who were invited to take part in the fire drill, the spokesman said the bus captains had followed the fire safety guidelines by advising the passengers to remain calm in the bus, asking them to wait at a place of safety for rescue and staying with all passengers until they were safely evacuated.

"I fully appreciate their effort in looking after the passengers and communicating well with the tunnel staff and firemen," he said.

At the fire drill, an LPG taxi and a double-decker bus with passengers on board collided inside the Kowloon bound tunnel tube of CHT, causing another two buses to stop abruptly and leaving the taxi driver and a few bus passengers injured. The engine of the LPG taxi was on fire subsequently.

Fire drills are regularly conducted to strengthen the fire fighting capability of the tunnel staff and communication and coordination with all parties concerned so as to bring the impact of tunnel incidents to a minimum.

"TD continues to work closely with the tunnel operators and relevant government parties, in particular the Fire Services Department and Police, in conducting fire drills and fine tuning various contingency plans on tunnel incidents," he said.

End/Friday, July 5, 2002