
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 1, 1994                   TAG: 9402010137
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HAMPTON                                LENGTH: Short

TUNNEL FIRE SIMULATION SATISFACTORY

Ventilation fans in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel worked as expected when workers set off a volley of smoke bombs to simulate a truck fire, officials said.

The bridge-tunnel was closed at 3 a.m. Sunday to test the ventilation system and the tunnel's 26-ton floodgates.

Two tunnel employees donned air-masks and set off 12 smoke bombs in the westbound tunnel. The test was designed to simulate a tractor-trailer fire and examine where the smoke flowed inside the tunnel as exhaust fans were switched on.

Even though a total of 24 smoke bombs were detonated, and the smoke still dawdled, officials said they were pleased overall, because the smoke was ventilated in the time expected - less than 10 minutes.

- Associated Press

by CNB