Fire at Marco Chips factory in Erbil’s Pirzin brought under control, officials say

ERBIL — Firefighting teams brought a fire under control at the Marco Chips factory in the Pirzin area on the outskirts of Erbil early Tuesday, officials said, with no injuries reported.

The incident began in the early morning hours, sending thick black smoke across nearby neighborhoods and prompting a large emergency response.

Shakhawan Saeed told 964media that the situation had stabilized and crews were continuing post-fire operations.

“The fire has been controlled and what remains is the cooling phase. At the time the company was established, it did not notify the Civil Defense Directorate,” he said.

Authorities said they were alerted at 05:48 a.m., leading to the deployment of nearly 25 Civil Defense teams with support from Zerevani forces and parks engineering units.

“We were notified at 05:48 about the fire. Our teams are here. There is no safety compliance here, and six months ago we officially notified that legal measures should be taken against the factory owner to ensure compliance. The outcome is what has happened now with the fire,” Saeed said.

Residents reported hearing a loud noise at the onset of the incident, though the cause remains under investigation.

Issa Mustafa, a witness, said, “At the beginning of the fire at around 5:30 a.m., there was a loud rumbling sound, but so far the cause has not been identified.”

He added that there were no casualties but extensive losses, saying, “There was a plan earlier to relocate this factory from the area, but it remained in its place.”

The fire also disrupted operations at a nearby school after administrators suspended classes due to safety concerns.

Mohammed Nabi, principal of Zangi Primary School in Pirzin, told 964media the situation posed a risk to students.

“They were experiencing breathing difficulties, and there are several gas tanks and gas cylinders on rooftops that pose a risk of explosion,” he said.