By Afshin Majlesi

On the occasion of World Mosque Day

Fifty-one years ago, on August 21, 1969, an extremist set fire to Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, which is of very high significance for Muslims as once being their first qibla or direction of prayer. The fire swept through an area of nearly 1500 square meters of the mosque, burning an ancient pulpit, altar, arches, pillars, walls, and ultimately causing a collapse.

By Afshin Majlesi

The absolutely magnificent ‘Gold Bowl of Hasanlu’: Sixty-three years later

TEHRAN – Sixty-three years ago, an Iranian man, named Emamqoli Mohammadi Hasanluei, unearthed a millennia-old gold bowl in the debris of a burned building, part of the major architectural complex at Teppe Hasanlu near the city of Naghadeh in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, a short distance south of Lake Urmia.

Fire, explosion on U.S. naval ship injures at least 21

TEHRAN – A ship at the U.S. Naval base in San Diego has caught fire which according to reports, has injured at least 21 people on board.

33 killed, injured in explosion at clinic in Tehran

TEHRAN – Thirty three people were killed and injured in an explosion caused by a gas leak at a clinic in northern Tehran on Tuesday night.

Fire incidents engulf tourist attractions in Khuzestan

TEHRAN – Maysan Mozif and the historical entrance gate of Marashi Mansion in southwestern Khuzestan province have been engulfed in fire in separate incidents, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Historical Abyaneh village unaffected by fire incident

TEHRAN – A fire that broke out across gardens of Abyaneh village in the central province of Isfahan on Wednesday has inflicted no damage to the historical texture of the village, CHTN reported.

Historic bazaar of Tabriz to be equipped with advanced smoke detectors

TEHRAN – The UNESCO-registered bazaar of Tabriz will be equipped with advanced smoke detectors to ensure the safety of the centuries-old marketplace situated in Iran’s East Azarbaijan province, IRNA quoted Tabriz Fire Department official Alireza Zebardast as saying on Tuesday. 

Fire incident causes no harm to historical Susa

TEHRAN – A fire broke out at the UNESCO-registered site of Susa in the southwestern Khuzestan province on Friday, but fortunately the incident has inflicted no damage to the historical site.    

IKIA to set up new fire station

TEHRAN – Another fire station will be added to the vast Imam Khomeini International Airport to keep up with world’s highest standards both in high-tech and skilled manpower arenas.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Hegmataneh put on fire once again despite warnings

A fire broke out at the ancient Hegmataneh Hill in the west-central Iranian province of Hamedan on Friday, an incident that has occurred frequently despite warnings in recent years. 

By Faranak Bakhtiari

For dedicated firefighters who give up their lives to save ours

TEHRAN – Iran marks the National Firefighters’ Day on September 29 to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those who give up their lives in the line of duty. This occasion is an opportunity to pay tribute to members of the fire and rescue service who are devoted to protect the public.

Anthropogenic fire extinguished in Anzali wetland

TEHRAN – A fire that had been reportedly started by humans in northern Anzali wetland on Friday was successfully put out, ISNA news agency reported. Covering more than 19,000 hectares, Anzali wetland is located near the northern port city of Bandar Anzali, neighboring the Caspian Sea.

Fire damages 1,000 Sq. m of historical texture in Tehran

TEHRAN – Recent assessment shows that fire has destroyed some 1,000 square meters of historical buildings encircling Hassanabad Square in downtown Tehran.  

Damage to Hassanabad Sq. to be compensated soon

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has said that damage to Tehran’s Hassanabad Sq., which was on fire late on Wednesday, will be compensated as soon as possible.

‘Vast vegetation cover increases wildfire risk during summer’

TEHRAN – Given that heavy rainfall saturated the country over the past few months, plant and vegetation cover has been expanded which seems to be vulnerable to temperature rise, so wildfire risk increases during this summer (starting on May 22), said Tehran’s department of environment deputy director for technical affairs.

Fire incurs $1.3 million loss to historic bazaar of Tabriz

TEHRAN – A blaze which erupted late on Wednesday at the historic bazaar of Tabriz, northwest Iran, is estimated to have caused about 200 billion rials ($1.33 million) to the UNESCO-registered site.

Historic bazaar of Tabriz sustains blaze thanks to regular restorations: tourism official

TEHRAN – Historic bazaar of Tabriz in Iran’s East Azarbaijan province could sustain a blaze, which erupted around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, a fortune that provincial tourism chief attributes to rounds of previous restoration work on the UNESCO-tagged marketplace.

Huge fire breaks out in Paris' Famous Notre Dame

A massive fire broke out on April 15, 2019, at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the most visited landmarks in the world. Police said the fire is possibly linked to a renovation project that was underway at the church's spire.

Chaharshanbeh-Suri: A reddish salute to new Iranian year

As every last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year comes, millions of Iranians make bonfires at sunset to jump over the fire till midnight to observe Chaharshanbe-Suri, just days before Noruz, the New Year holidays.

60,000 Tehrani teachers to join fire safety training course

TEHRAN – Some 60,000 teachers in Tehran will be provided with fire safety training course to promote proper safety procedures while on duty in the next Iranian calendar year (March 2019-March 2020), head of Tehran Fire Stations and Safety Services Organization affiliated to Tehran Municipality has said.

Schools to be equipped with standard heating systems: official 

TEHRAN — Approximately 90,000 classes nationwide don’t have standard heating systems, deputy director of schools renovation, development and equipment organization said, adding the classes are to be equipped within the next one to two years.