Fire damages three shops, vehicle in Erbil industrial zone

ERBIL — A fire broke out Wednesday in Erbil’s Northern Industrial Zone, damaging three shops and a vehicle before being contained by civil defense crews. No injuries or casualties were reported, according to local authorities.

A witness told 964media that the affected businesses specialized in fuel pump repairs and automotive supplies. The fire reportedly originated inside a fuel pump repair shop and quickly spread to two adjacent shops and a nearby vehicle.

Firefighters from Erbil’s civil defense department responded to the scene shortly after the blaze began and managed to bring it under control. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is underway.

The incident comes amid ongoing fire risks in the region. Between January and October 2024, Erbil’s Civil Defense Directorate recorded 2,057 fire incidents. Dry vegetation was the leading cause, responsible for 842 of those cases. Fires during that period resulted in 46 fatalities — 22 from burns and 24 from suffocation — and left 89 people injured. Civil defense teams also rescued 56 individuals and 11 vehicles.