Iran Faces Critical Firefighting Shortage, Official Warns

Iran faces a critical shortage of fire trucks with a current deficit of 2,000 vehicles, all while the country faces increasing numbers of deadly fire incidents.

Ghodratollah Mohammadi, the head of Tehran's Fire Department, said most of the existing fire trucks are 30 years old and dilapidated, unable to meet the demands of the force.

Speaking at the Sixth International Fire and Urban Safety Conference, Mohammadi stated that current municipal budgets "only cover firefighters' salaries" and lack the necessary funds for critical equipment. He called for national budget allocation to address the issue, warning that without it, some cities face "very dangerous" conditions.

The shortage comes as Iran grapples with a surge in fires at factories, industrial centers, and refineries. These incidents are often labeled as "sabotage" by the government, adding to the pressure on the already strained firefighting services. In Tehran, fires in unsafe buildings continue to claim lives, as seen in the 2017 Plasco building tragedy, which killed 16 firefighters.

Tehran City Council recently identified 35,000 unsafe buildings in the capital.

Criticism is also directed at insurance companies. Mohammadi criticized them for their inaction in supporting firefighting efforts, advocating for a portion of their profits to be redirected to reduce public risk. He lamented that "firefighters have been forgotten in society," despite the high stress and danger of their work.

While the Iranian government allocates millions of dollars to support proxy groups in regional conflicts, domestic needs like firefighting infrastructure are being ignored, fueling unrest in the country which since 2022 has witnessed the largest uprising in the regime's history.