KRG introduces new public safety rules after fires in Al-Sulaymaniyah

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) introduced new public safety rules following several fires in Al-Sulaymaniyah over the past week, with stricter requirements for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems in residential and commercial properties and at fuel stations among the key measures.

Under the new regulations, LPG installations must include mandatory early-warning and fire-suppression systems, while tanker trucks transporting petroleum products and chemicals must display designated identification codes and plates and undergo annual technical inspections, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior.

Over the past week, several fires have erupted in Iraq’s Al-Sulaymaniyah province, including a major blaze at a fuel depot in the Tanjaro industrial area that injured workers and firefighters and destroyed dozens of fuel tankers. Less than 24 hours later, another fuel-related fire broke out at a station inside the provincial government compound, although no casualties were reported. On Friday, a wildfire also spread rapidly across Mount Azmar amid strong winds before authorities brought it under control the following day.

To oversee the new requirements, the ministry said it had formed a central committee at its headquarters, along with subcommittees in the provinces and independent administrations, to monitor implementation through field inspections.

Projects across all sectors must follow safety procedures during the design and construction phases and after opening. They will also undergo inspections four times a year.

Residential complexes with more than 1,000 housing units must provide a fully equipped civil defense center staffed with personnel and equipped with vehicles. Government departments and projects must also establish “self-protection teams,” whose members will be trained by the Civil Defense Directorate to respond to emergencies.

Inspection fees have been set at 250,000 Iraqi dinars (about $191) per project. Violations of safety requirements will carry a 500,000-dinar (about $382) fine, while tanker trucks without the required identification plates will face a 200,000-dinar (about $153) fine.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defense Institute has been tasked with organizing Level A and Level B training courses for public- and private-sector personnel to strengthen their firefighting and first-aid skills.