WANA (May 05) – In the heart of darkness and smoke, where everyone flees the flames, there are men who run toward them, not for fame, not for reward, but to save lives; firefighters. Firefighting is a profession many of us dreamed of as children—a job where people dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to rescuing others.

 

In Iran, firefighters are respected not only for their work’s difficulty but also for their profession’s humanitarian nature, where helping others is the highest priority.

 

Even as many service institutions face public criticism, the fire department remains one of the few entities that, despite its shortages, receives no blame from the people, because they know these men have placed their most precious possession—their lives—on the line.

 

Shahid Rajaee Port

I want to speak about the most recent act of bravery by these Iranian firefighters. On April 26, 2025, a massive explosion occurred in one of the containers at Shahid Rajaee Port, Bandar Abbas, causing the fire to spread rapidly. An incident that left 57 dead and over 1,000 injured.

 

At that time, the residents of Bandar Abbas were already enduring 40°C heat in their daily lives. Now, on top of the sweltering weather, the fire alone had reached a temperature of 1,400°C.

Iranian firefighter in the Shahid Rajaee Port incident, Bandar Abbas. Social media/ WANA News Agency

It took 15 hours to bring the main blaze under control, and 48 hours to fully extinguish the fire. Even imagining such heat and conditions is difficult—let alone being present in the midst of it.

 

In this grueling situation, firefighters dispatched from the provinces of Tehran, Fars, Yazd, Kerman, and Hormozgan risked their lives—without any knowledge of the containers’ contents, the type of fire, or the potential dangers ahead—to prevent the disaster from spreading.

 

Several explosions occurred just five meters away from the firefighters, yet none of them retreated. With courage and self-sacrifice, they charged into the flames and saved lives. Even firefighters who were off duty flew in from cities like Tehran on their own initiative and voluntarily stood alongside their fellow responders.

 

But this incident had more than one dimension. Once again, the people of Iran demonstrated their solidarity and support. Upon hearing the news and the Blood Transfusion Organization’s call for donations, they rushed to blood donation centers, forming long lines. In Isfahan, the record for most blood donated in a single day was broken.

Iranian firefighters in the Shahid Rajaee Port incident, Bandar Abbas. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Upon seeing the damage done to people’s cars, auto body workers and repair technicians stepped in voluntarily and repaired them for free, and these are just a few examples of the kindness of the Iranian people.

 

Of course, the main story is about the firefighters, and I don’t want to drift from that, but it would be unjust not to mention the role of the people.

 

Plasco: The Day Tehran Wept

In another account from 2017, the Plasco building in Tehran caught fire and collapsed after burning for 3.5 hours. In this incident, 16 firefighters and 6 citizens lost their lives.

 

The father of Hossein Hosseinzadeh, one of the firefighters who perished in the Plasco tragedy, tells the story of his son’s passion for his job: “He loved this work so much that when he was hired, he used to sleep in his firefighting uniform.”

 

He continued: “On the day of the incident, he had a sick leave, but he said he had to go. He evacuated several people from the building and went back in to check if anyone was left behind, and he never came back out. One day, he told me: ‘I will make you proud.’ On the day of his funeral, all I could think about was that sentence.”

 

This incident also caused deep sorrow for the firefighters’ colleagues. Just like their families, their coworkers had to accept the emptiness their absence left.

Iranian firefighters, in tears for the people and their colleagues trapped beneath the rubble, after the collapse of the Plasco building. Tehran. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Metropol Abadan

The Metropol tragedy in Abadan was another bitter disaster of these years when the building collapsed, leaving many trapped under the rubble. Firefighters, with all their might, rushed to the scene and, until the very last moment, tried to save the lives of the people.  They did not retreat amidst the ruins, putting their lives on the forefront of sacrifice. This incident resulted in 43 deaths and 38 injuries.

 

The Tough Challenges of Firefighters in Iran

Iranian firefighters, despite the lack of modern equipment and the challenges posed by sanctions, continue to be on the front lines of responding to emergencies. However, until just last year, their profession was not even considered a “hard job,” and they were not entitled to hardship benefits. This law was finally passed after years of effort.

Iranian firefighters in the Plasco building collapse incident, Tehran. Social media/ WANA News Agency

“My son joined the fire academy at the age of 15. He was very eager; he didn’t join this profession out of unemployment. After his military service, he entered the fire department university. Why doesn’t the Fire Department have equipment? Our children have gone, but don’t let this happen to others,” The mother of Fereydoun Ali-Tabar, one of the firefighters who died in the Plasco building collapse, said about the lack of proper equipment.

 

Firefighters: Silent Heroes

Iranian firefighters are heroes who, in comparison to firefighters in other countries with advanced equipment, sacrifice their lives without fear to save others. They are silently present in the heart of the fire and save lives in silence. Perhaps they will never be appreciated as they should, but I wrote this text to honor them, even if only by a fraction, for their efforts and dedication.