Associated Press Published

Minimal Damage from Fire in Tunnel Along W.Va.-Va. Border

W.Va. State Police

Officials say a Christmas night fire caused minimal damage to an Interstate 77 tunnel along the Virginia-West Virginia border.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says all lanes of the East River Mountain Tunnel were opened at 12:38 a.m. Friday morning following a vehicle fire in the southbound lane of the tunnel.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports that officials will have to do some small pavement and tile repairs in the coming days.

Emergency officials say Bluefield and Green Valley-Glenwood fire departments in West Virginia and Bland and Rocky Gap fire departments in Virginia responded to the blaze.

The West Virginia State Police, Virginia State Police, Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Virginia Department of Transportation, West Virginia Department of Transportation and Mercer County Emergency Management also responded to the scene.