Tunnel fire stops traffic near W.Va., Va. border

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A fire inside the East River Tunnel near West Virginia’s border with Virginia has stopped traffic on Interstate 77.

West Virginia Turnpike State Police dispatcher D.L. Parsons says a tractor trailer was on fire Friday inside the tunnel. He says first responders are having difficulty getting into the tunnel, and the blaze wasn’t suppressed as of 30 minutes ago.

Parsons says traffic north and south is closed and there’s no estimate for reopening it. Drivers are being redirected onto U.S. Route 460 at Princeton.

The Virginia Department of Transportation website says traffic is backed up for 6 miles.

Virginia State Police dispatcher J. Marshall says the fire started around 3 p.m. She says Virginia police haven’t heard of injuries.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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