Fire Trucks To Be Placed Along Highway to Curb Accident Risks

BAGHDAD — Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari on Wednesday directed the Civil Defense Directorate to deploy fire trucks along the main highway stretching from Anbar to Basra in both directions, aiming to reduce the risk of accidents as temperatures continue to rise across the country.
In Iraq, where summer temperatures often exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), the risk of vehicle fires, tire blowouts, and roadside blazes increases sharply, especially along long highway stretches with limited emergency access. These conditions can lead to serious traffic accidents and delays in emergency response.

According to a statement from the ministry, the directive came during a briefing from the Civil Defense Directorate on its first-quarter activities. The minister emphasized the need for intensified action in the recently launched unit within the 911 Response Directorate and called for strategic planning in anticipation of summer conditions.

“The deployment of fire trucks along the highway from Anbar to Basra is necessary to reduce the risk of accidents,” the minister said, urging legal action against violators, especially under extreme heat conditions. He stressed the importance of ramping up inspections of buildings and hotels to ensure safety protocols are in place and ordering the immediate closure of any sites in violation.

Al-Shammari also called for increasing the number of young, capable personnel within the Civil Defense Directorate to support its operations. “I fully support this vital directorate, which has contributed to saving many citizens,” he said, commending the continued sacrifices made by its teams.

The minister also directed preparations for the 20th Arab Conference of Civil Protection Chiefs, which is scheduled to take place in Baghdad this August.