Wasit civil defense committee launches fire prevention measures after deadly Kut blaze

WASIT — The High Committee for Civil Defense Operations in Wasit, chaired by Gov. Hadi Al-Hamashi, held its first meeting and issued recommendations aimed at preventing fires and improving safety standards across the governorate.

According to a statement, the meeting’s outcomes focused on “closing non-compliant establishments within 15 days, preparing a disaster management strategy, and enforcing workplace safety standards.”

The recommendations include launching a provincewide campaign to shut down any facility, factory, or company that fails to meet civil defense requirements within 15 days, based on inspection reports from the Civil Defense Directorate. A special committee from the governor’s office, civil defense, municipalities, health, electricity, trade, and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society will prepare a disaster management strategy.

Other measures call for obligating vehicle drivers to carry fire extinguishers as part of routine inspections, removing highly flammable materials from government buildings, and holding employers accountable for unsafe working conditions.

The committee also urged media to broadcast fire safety awareness messages through television, radio, and public display screens. Wasit’s health department will require restaurants, cafés, and other licensed projects to meet safety standards as a condition for license renewal.

The measures follow the deadly fire at a shopping center in Kut killed 61 people and triggered public outrage. Relatives of the victims began nightly protests outside the governorate building, escalating to an open-ended sit-in on July 22 to demand the dismissal and prosecution of local officials. The following day, Wasit Governor Mohammed Jameel Al-Mayahy submitted his resignation.