Kirkuk: Civil Defense teams in Kirkuk successfully contained a fire that erupted in a 35,000-liter oxidized asphalt tank at the “Golden Seagulls” factory located in the Darman area of Kirkuk Governorate. The swift action by the teams prevented the fire from spreading to seven adjacent tanks and resulted in no reported injuries.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the fire was triggered by a backfire, which led to a significant buildup of gas pressure inside the tank. The incident occurred when cold asphalt was added to an already hot tank, causing a thermal reaction. This reaction resulted in the tank cover exploding and subsequently igniting the fire.

The prompt response and intervention by the Civil Defense teams were crucial in limiting the material losses to minor damage, thanks to the efficient evacuation and control operations conducted on-site.