Najaf Civil Defense reports 78% drop in fire incidents this year

NAJAF, Iraq — The Najaf Civil Defense Directorate said on Tuesday that fire incidents in the province fell by 78% over the past year, citing prevention campaigns and faster emergency response as the main drivers of the decline. Ali Tuwaij, the directorate's media officer, said civil defense teams carried out year-round prevention and intervention work that helped reduce the number of fires. He added that public compliance with safety instructions also contributed to the lower incident count. The directorate said it had expanded its rapid-response capacity and continued inspections in high-risk areas. It added that awareness campaigns on fire safety would continue in the coming period. No further details on specific incidents or comparative figures were immediately provided.