Baghdad: The Civil Defense Directorate announced the extinguishing of a fire in a commercial building on al-Rashid Street in Baghdad. In a statement, the director said, ‘Civil Defense teams successfully rescued five people trapped by a fire that broke out in a three-story commercial building used as a shoe factory and warehouse in al-Rashid Street area near Abdul Karim Qasim Square, under the command of the Director General of Civil Defense, Major General Mohsen Kadhim Alak.’

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the statement added, “Civil Defense teams mobilized their efforts immediately, surrounding the fire and isolating the burning building from neighboring buildings. A ladder truck was used to evacuate those trapped on the roof of the building. In addition, specialized modern fire trucks and water tankers with their crews were deployed. The teams completed the direct assault and entered the building, successfully extinguishing the fire completely despite the narrow alleyways in the area. The incident concluded without any casualties.”

It continued, “Accordingly, the Civil Defense requested an investigation and the summoning of a forensic expert to determine the cause of the fire, in accordance with established legal procedures.”