New ferry service between Tuen Mun and Tai O to commence

What should you do when a fire breaks out in a tunnel?

Fifty tunnel operators and bus company staff attending a joint seminar organised by the Transport Department (TD) and Fire Services Department (FSD) on general fire safety guidelines in tunnels today (July 17) were given specific advice to deal with such emergency situations.

Quick and proper response to a fire incident is the general rule for all, said a TD spokesman.

"For tunnel operators, in the event of a fire incident being detected, they have to immediately activate the standard fire emergency procedures, which include informing FSD and the Police through direct telephone lines, stopping all vehicles from entering the tunnels and implementing traffic diversions, alerting tunnel users of the emergency situation through tunnel radio rebroadcast system, switching on the fire mode of the ventilation system, and dispatching the first rescue team to the incident scene to help control the fire and help in the evacuation," said the spokesman.

"For bus drivers, in case of a fire, they are advised to remain calm, stop the bus properly, inform passengers about the fire and assist them to get off the bus.

"Where possible, they are also advised to contact the tunnel control centre through the emergency telephones inside the tunnel and report the situation to the centre," he said.

"They should also advise passengers to stay at the nearside kerb of the tunnel and wait for rescue or instructions of the tunnel staff."

At the seminar, representatives of the Police were also present to share their experience and exchange views on handling fire incidents inside tunnels.

Attendees also had a chance to review the recent fire incident at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel to learn from the experience during the seminar.

As a general advice, the motorist whose vehicle is on fire should get off the vehicle at once and can try to put off the fire with the fire extinguishers provided at the two sides of the tunnel. He should also report instantly the fire to the tunnel control room through the emergency phones inside the tunnel or dial "999" to make a report to the Police through a mobile phone.

However, both drivers and passengers should not open the cross-passage door to go to the neighbouring tube by themselves unless the situation so warrants as it may be dangerous to do so if there is moving traffic in the next tube.

The spokesman said that unnecessary damage and injuries could be avoided if each party knows clearly what role they should play in case of a fire. "The seminar offers a good opportunity for different parties to exchange their views on fire fighting and emergency management in tunnels, and to update guidelines on tunnel safety."

"To further enhance the fire fighting capability of all parties involved, a fire drill will be organised later this week at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and bus company training staff and operations staff are invited to take part for the first time."

"By means of such a drill, parties concerned can put what they have learnt and shared today into practice and fine-tune the guidelines for general reference where appropriate," the spokesman added.

End/Monday, July 17, 2000

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