Inferno Fighters: Kurdistan Equips Its Cities with New Firefighting Fleet

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a significant stride towards public safety and emergency preparedness, the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Region has officially handed over 20 state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles to the region’s governorates and independent administrations.

The announcement on International Firefighters Day marks a momentous investment in civil defense and underscores the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) commitment to safeguarding citizens against fire-related disasters.

At a press conference held to commemorate the occasion, Hemin Mirani, General Director of the Interior Ministry Diwan, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative. "The delivery of these 20 firefighting vehicles reflects the Prime Minister’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety across the Kurdistan Region," Mirani stated. "They represent a decisive step in strengthening the infrastructure of civil defense and protecting lives and property."

The newly introduced vehicles are equipped with advanced Rosenbauer firefighting systems — the same high-performance technology employed in international airports. Each unit boasts a six-thousand-liter water capacity alongside 500 liters of fire-suppressing foam, making them significantly larger and more advanced than standard firefighting trucks currently in use.

With a price tag of 2.5 million euros, the acquisition reflects the Regional Government’s prioritization of civil protection. According to Mirani, the vehicles are being strategically deployed to major city centers across the region, where they are expected to play a pivotal role in controlling and extinguishing large-scale fires.

This upgrade is part of broader institutional reforms implemented during the ninth cabinet of the KRG. One of the major decisions taken by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani was the separation of civil defense directorates from police departments. This restructuring elevated the civil defense units to general directorate status, granting them greater autonomy, enhanced capabilities, and direct oversight by the Ministry of Interior.

"This was a crucial administrative reform that allowed us to better support and supervise the work of civil defense units," Mirani explained. "With the introduction of these powerful vehicles, we are not only honoring our rescue teams on their international day but also giving them the tools they need to serve more effectively."

The event was also a symbolic acknowledgment of the bravery and resilience of the Kurdistan Region’s firefighting and rescue teams, whose dedication continues to save lives and limit damage during emergencies.

As the region confronts the challenges of urban expansion and climate-induced risks, these Rosenbauer firefighting vehicles mark a critical enhancement in the KRG’s emergency response arsenal — designed not only to suppress fires but to instill public confidence in the government's protective infrastructure.