ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An American hardware store caught fire in western Erbil on Saturday, sending thick, black plumes of smoke over the city.
Ace Hardware (ACE) is an American store that has partnered with smaller, typically local hardware stores. It as more than 50,00 stores across the world "with the majority of those stores independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs," according to its website.
The cause of the fire was unknown. According to eyewitnesses, the fire began near, not at, the depot, but soon took hold of the premises.
Exacerbated by the presence of plastic goods in the depot, the fire soon engulfed the building and its surrounding area. Its intensity caused the front of the building to collapse.
Firefighters struggled to tackle the blaze, but were eventually able to bring it under control. A firefighter was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
No other casualties were reported, the head of Erbil Civil Defense Showan Abdul-Qadir told Rudaw.
The store is located in a residential area close to Sami Abdul-Rahman Park and Justice Tower on Mosul Road.
Photos by Mohammed Shwani