Civil Defense rescues family of 11 from house fire in Baghdad’s Shawaka area

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Civil Defense teams rescued a family of 11 from a house fire in Baghdad’s Shawaka area on Sunday, according to a statement from the Civil Defense Directorate.

The fire broke out in a home located behind the General Retirement Directorate on the Karkh side of the capital and also spread to a passenger vehicle, the directorate said.

Civil Defense crews faced difficulties reaching the scene due to narrow passageways and vehicles parked in a way that obstructed access for conventional firefighting equipment. In response, the directorate deployed its rescue and firefighting boats to reach the area and carry out direct entry operations at the burning house.

Specialized teams evacuated all 11 family members and provided first aid to those injured at the scene before transferring them to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The directorate said firefighters extinguished the blaze and brought the incident under control without any fatalities.

According to the statement, the operation reflects ongoing efforts by Civil Defense teams “to protect lives and property” despite challenges encountered in densely populated areas.

The Civil Defense Directorate did not specify the cause of the fire.