TD completes review on tunnel fire incident

The Transport Department (TD) has completed a review of the May 29 incident at the Cross Harbour Tunnel. A spokesman for the Department said that the incident had been handled effectively and that established procedures had proved robust.

The review sets out actions to be taken by the tunnel operator and measures to be considered by the Government to improve fire safety at tunnels.

To follow up the review, the TD has written to the operator of the CHT to request the company to step up training of their staff on fire emergencies and place more emphasis on tunnel broadcasting and communication with the affected people in case of similar incidents in the future.

A spokesman for the Department said the review was carried out together with the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Police, Highways Department and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department following a fire incident at CHT.

To improve the fire fighting capability and the equipment of the CHT, the TD will introduce fire drills with participation by bus operators to enhance communication and evacuation of bus passengers in case of tunnel fire. Such a fire drill has been planned for the tunnel in the next few weeks.

The Department will also seek funds for the upgrading of tunnel equipment, including replacing the cameras and the monitors of the CCTV system to enhance surveillance of the traffic movement inside the tunnel, and look into the feasibility of replacing the existing fire hydrant system with a fire hydrant/hose reel system to facilitate fire fighting.

As for the performance of the tunnel operator in tackling the fire incident, the spokesman said TD considered that the tunnel operator had responded and handled the fire incident effectively, and generally in accordance with the established procedures.

"However, there are several areas which require improvement," the spokesman said.

"For instance, it took two minutes for the tunnel operator to detect the fire incident via the close circuit television (CCTV) at the tunnel control room. The fire should have been detected as early as possible and replacing the CCTV system will help address this."

"Further, the operator's stated response time of three minutes arriving at the incident scene is longer than the requirement of two minutes specified in the management contract."

However, the spokesman said that the target two minute response time was quite stringent, and might be affected by the location and nature of any incident.

"For example, in this case, it might have taken the tunnel vehicle over a minute just to reach the scene. We have to work with the company to identify how to get to the scene faster in such difficult circumstances."

The spokesman said on the procedural aspects, the operator had, upon detection of the incident, immediately activated the standard fire emergency procedures, namely informing the Fire Services Department (FSD) through the direct telephone line, dispatching the first rescue team of three staff (including a driver) to the incident scene, stopping all vehicles at both tunnel entrances, alerting tunnel users of the emergency situation through tunnel radio broadcast, switching on the fire mode of the ventilation system and opening the emergency gate to facilitate the fire engines to access the incident scene. However, the Transport Department found that the two rescue staff first arrived at the scene had not complied with important procedures.

"Firstly, they did not wear smoke masks when entering the scene. Secondly, they did not take a fire hose with them to control the fire. Thirdly, one member of the staff left the scene to help with evacuation, but should have stayed to work as a team. Fourthly, they should stay at the scene to hand over the operation to the fire officers on their arrival."

The TD has asked the operator to step up training of the staff to ensure that procedures are fully complied with.

In the review, the FSD confirmed that fire fighting equipment in all tunnels are considered adequate. To follow up the review, TD is also examining with FSD and other parties possible improvement measures for all tunnels in Hong Kong, including

	review on the need to upgrade the existing fire protection and fire fighting facilities in all Government tunnels;
	liaising with all tunnel operators to examine possible improvement in the planning and monitoring of the fire drills in addition to tunnel operators conducting their own internal fire fighting training and annual fire drills;
	holding more experience sharing sessions to review performance and the latest development in emergency management in the industry; and
	stepping up education for the public on safety guidelines in case of fire and other emergencies inside tunnel with the assistance of the tunnel operators , bus operators and the Road Safety Council.

"The Department believed that while lessons could be learnt, everybody involved in incidents of this serious nature is very keen to make sure that reaction time is minimised, and the most effective action is taken," said the spokesman.

End/Wednesday, June 14, 2000

NNNN