Troops extinguish Iraqi pipeline fire
By
March 6, 2006
ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Army News Service, March 6, 2006) – An economic and environmental disaster was averted when Iraqi police and coalition forces joined forces to put out a pipeline fire March 2.
Terrorists attacked the oil pipeline and breached a 20-meter section of pipe.
A fire ensued, covering the space of two soccer fields.
Firefighters, who arrived on the scene, came under small-arms fire until Iraqi police arrived and the terrorists fled.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, secured the outer cordon of the fire until it was put out.
The combined effort of the Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces helped prevent a catastrophic event, said Lt. Col. Patrick Donahoe, commander, 1-67 Armor Regiment. He said the troops prevented destruction of valuable oil pipelines that move fuel for energy, a highly-prized commodity for export out of Iraq.
Insurgents attacked an oil pipeline near Taji, Iraq, March 1. Soldiers of the 66th Armored Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division maintained perimeter security of the fire site during a reconnaissance patrol that day.
(Editor's note: Information provided by 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Force-Iraq.
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