KUWAIT: Acting General Director of Kuwait Fire Forces (KFF) Lieutenant General Khaled Fahad said there were many obstacles hindering firefighters’ work at the tires dumping site in Al-Salmi which must be addressed.
The remarks came at a meeting with representatives from Kuwait Municipality, the Environment Public Authority and Public Authority for Industry. At a meeting held by KFF to coordinate with the specialized bodies, Fahad followed up on the progress made to protect citizens and residents near the tires dumping site.
He pointed to the lack of fire preventative measures, the dumping of tires in a random unorganized manner, the difficulty of reaching the site, the absence of a fence around the site to protect it from trespassers and the lack of a water source.
Fahad stressed the importance of preparing the site with water tanks and fire extinguishers and taking all safety measures in case of any emergencies in the site, such as security cameras and guards. He also called for the construction of a paved road which ends at the dumping site.
Fahad praised the efforts made in finding solutions to help firemen fight fires that erupt at the tires dumping site. He emphasized the importance of cooperating with the fire forces to protect residents and citizens from fires.
The tire dump has caught fire multiple times in the past. Last year, a blaze devoured thousands of tires which were dumped in more than 4,000 square meters area designated for old tires by the Environment Public Authority in Salmi. The Accident Investigation Department of the Directorate-General of Fire Department (DGFD) said the stored materials and the wind speed, helped spread the fire quickly. The investigating party didn’t rule out arson.
The landfill extends over 3 km² and is considered the world’s largest tire graveyard. There are around 60 million used tires in the landfill alone, according to environmental officials in 2021. In 2021 alone, authorities reported three different fires in Salmi. Preliminary investigations concluded that all three fires were deliberate after finding traces of combustible liquids at the site. — Agencies