By “70%”.. Iraq records a significant decline in fires during last July

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[size=52]By “70%”.. Iraq records a significant decline in fires during last July[/size]

[size=45]The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced that 938 fires were recorded in July, indicating a significant decrease in the number compared to the same month in the previous year.[/size]
[size=45]The spokesman for the Interior Ministry and the Security Media Cell, Brigadier General Muqdad Miri, said in a statement that “the Civil Defense Directorate succeeded in reducing the percentage of fire accidents recorded in all Iraqi governorates by 70% in the month of July 2024.”[/size]
[size=45]She pointed out that "fire incidents amounted to (938) fires only, while the incidents recorded for the year 2023 for the same month were (2907) fire incidents."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that the Civil Defense Directorate "considers that July is the month with the highest number of recorded fires among the months of the year, due to the high temperatures and the increased chances of their causes."[/size]
[size=45]The Directorate attributed the reduction in the number of accidents recorded during 2024 to “citizen awareness in the first place, in addition to deterrent legal measures against violators of safety procedures and civil defense requirements.”[/size]
[size=45]She explained that its measures led to “removing violations that were among the most important reasons for the increase in fire rates in previous years.”[/size]
[size=45]The total number of fire alerts has exceeded 18,700 since the beginning of the year until April 15, while the same period last year 2023 had a total number of 15,000 fires, according to the global fire alerts website.[/size]
[size=45]MP Mohammed Al-Baldawi said, “The issue of fires requires more effort than legislating a law, as the civil defense departments require support and strengthening their cadres with larger numbers. They also need intensive training courses, mechanisms and equipment, as the equipment used so far is old, worn out and slow-moving.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Baldawi stressed that “there are no advanced capabilities that can quickly get civil defense personnel to the location of the fire, while the world has reached the point of treating fires with aircraft, and this is a fast and effective method for controlling such incidents.”[/size]
[size=45]According to the Ministry of Interior, most fires in Iraq occur in the summer, and compared to last year, the number of fires increased by 24%.[/size]
[size=45]Fires often break out in commercial markets, especially popular ones, due to the crowding of shops, warehouses and electrical wires, including Jamila and Shorja markets in the capital, Baghdad.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the economic affairs specialist, Ali Al-Amiri, said, “The fires in Iraq have caused huge material losses represented by the burning of a number of farms, orchards, centers, warehouses and shops, estimated at millions of dollars, in addition to cases of illegal competition between a number of merchants resulting from an attempt to cause losses among them through fires.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Amiri added, "The fires have a direct economic impact on trade and tourism, in addition to disrupting public interests."[/size]
[size=45]He explained that “the lack of awareness and guidance, and the weakness of safety procedures and means played a major role in the increasing rates of fire accidents in Iraq, in addition to the weak oversight and the neglect of implementing laws strictly to ensure everyone’s safety.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Amiri continued, "There are hands working to start fires by targeting farms with the aim of suppressing local production and continuing import operations from abroad, in order to obtain financial gains and achieve external agendas and desires."[/size]
[size=45]One of the most notable fires of the past year was the fire that swept through a wedding hall in the Hamdaniya district of Nineveh last September. This fire led to the death and injury of 400 people. The incident received local and international attention, and prompted an investigation into safety procedures in halls and markets. As a result, many decisions were taken to address the issue.[/size]
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