ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, August 24, 1996              TAG: 9608260027
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN 

FIRE CLOSES BOWLING ALLEY

An electrical fire at the front counter of Triangle Lanes closed the Christiansburg bowling alley Friday.

The fire started in the control panels sometime between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., said manager Terry Stike.

Stike thinks the fire started "in one of our power amplifiers that does the sound system for our computer scoring."

The fire also damaged equipment for the alley's "rock 'n glow" bowling event, which incorporates lasers and music into the game.

Stike said the sprinkler system above the front counter came on and contained the fire but left a lot of water damage. Work crews were drying the carpet Friday afternoon as a pile of bowling shoes dried in the afternoon sun outside the building. All the alley's doors were open to air out smoke damage.

"Our biggest damage is computer damage and water damage," Stike said. The structure was not affected.

The alley may reopen this evening if replacement equipment can be installed by then. Still, Stike bemoaned the loss of Friday evening business, especially with Virginia Tech students returning.

"It's going to cost us dearly," he said.

LENGTH: Short :   37 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  GENE DALTON/Staff. A pile of bowling shoes dries in the 
          afternoon sun outside the Triangle Lanes building where a morning 
          fire damaged scoring equipment and
          other electrical devices. color.