Key emergency service to get much-needed improvements

Men wearing civilian clothes without protection, and sometimes even without gloves, can be seen putting out flames after explosions or attacks all over Iraq, reflecting the poor state of the country's fire service. The government, in conjunction with Coalition forces, is planning to spend US $20 million to modernise the service and provide training to redress this situation, a move that cannot come fast enough for those on the frontline. "Firemen in Iraq urgently require protection and safety guarantees during their work," Atheer Ali, a fire commander at the Kharada fire station in Baghdad, told IRIN. "The most difficult problem effecting and delaying our work is that we haven't got the right equipment for our own security. We cannot enter a place before we have completely put out the flames and this impacts on saving lives," Ali said. Ali added that even oxygen masks, essential for their protection against smoke, are not provided for firemen. The situation was the same under Saddam Hussein and has continued after the US-led war in spring 2003. "It's our job to save lives, but I think we deserve security and protection when doing our job," Ali said. Lack of funding, a decade of sanctions and outdated ways of working have left Iraq's fire service in tatters. Now firemen are facing an increasingly tough situation in the aftermath of the war with the same inadequate resources and training. Explosions, suicide car bombs and attacks on oil pipelines have increased the workload making their job more demanding and so increasing the need for modern fire-fighting equipment. According to officials from fire stations in the capital, oil pipeline explosions are some of the most difficult incidents to deal with. They say they need a specialised system for this job and that sometimes undermanned brigades have to travel hundreds of kilometres to help with these explosions, leaving Baghdad more vulnerable. The firemen also say that they are dependant on the water stored in their fire engines and that a system of emergency water pipes should be constructed in the country, particularly in the capital. But the Iraqi government and the Coalition hope that their investment in the service will improve matters. Almost $20 million will be spent to repair and modernise 28 fire stations in Iraq and bring them up to international standards. Of just 28 fire stations in the country, 22 are to be renovated and six will be built from scratch. The old buildings are damaged and require a complete overhaul to comply with safety standards. "Restoring the fire stations in Iraq and increasing the personal protection and instruction [of firemen] are essential for the development of our country, as well as lifesaving for Iraqis who are suffering to terrorism attacks everywhere in Iraq," Sabah Kadham, a Ministry of Interior spokesman, told IRIN. Kadham added that the project will include a programme of quality control and training lectures for the firemen. A computerised system will be added to each station and high-level communication systems will also be installed. A US Army Corps of Engineers official told IRIN the reconstruction project will evaluate each fire station individually. The project will also include administration, support areas, parking lots and pedestrian and vehicle circulation. The official said that they will focus on each detail starting from the floor and ending on painting, ventilation and air conditioning of the fire stations to bring a more efficient service to the Iraqi people. "What we are asking for is fast action from the government to improve our stations and vehicles, so that we can do our job at least with more capability and standard parametres," Kharada fire commander Ali said.