In Pictures

Fighting the flames of ISIL in Iraq

Firefighters are still working to extinguish the oil wells torched by ISIL as the group retreated from Qayyara.

Thick black smoke rises from the burning oil wells of Qayyarah. The wells were set ablaze by retreating ISIL fighters. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

7 Feb 2017

Qayyarah, Iraq – Six months after ISIL fighters torched oil wells in Qayyarah, Iraqi fire crews are still battling the flames. Like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster, a vast and pervasive darkness hangs over Qayyarah, as toxic black smoke billows from the burning wells.

Oil has been a key source of income for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, making Qayyarah an important strategic town. Its recapture last August by Iraqi forces was a significant gain in their advance towards Mosul.

Before fleeing, ISIL fighters used explosives to torch several oil wells, initially as a defensive measure to thwart coalition air strikes. But as the group began losing ground to Iraqi forces, they adopted a scorched-earth strategy, destroying as many oil wells as possible.

The operation to extinguish the fires, now in its fifth month, is proving to be a difficult, dangerous and time-consuming task. Teams of firefighters, machine operators, mechanics, engineers and safety experts have come from across the country to join the effort – but regardless of when the flames are extinguished, the human and environmental costs will probably linger for years.

When the wind is strong, the thick, toxic smoke spreads throughout the area, often blocking out the sun for days at a time. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

The danger does not end when the fires are extinguished. Firefighter Joseph Abdullah Juad explains that after the fires are put out, the gas that is then released can be even more deadly. When you smell the gas, after one hour you feel dizzy and cannot breathe, he says. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

A machine operator takes a break from the enormous task of fighting the massive oil well fires. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Men gather at the fire's edge as water is pumped into a flaming oil well. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire on the outskirts of Qayyarah. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

The human and environmental costs of the fires will probably linger for years after they are extinguished. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Firefighters stand on the edge of a blazing oil pit as they work to extinguish the flames, while one holds up his phone to take a photo. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Juad explains how they are fighting the flames by pumping large volumes of water into the heart of the blaze. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Operations to extinguish the fires have been going on for months. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Fires have been raging since the town of Qayyarah was retaken by Iraqi forces in August. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

A machine operator proudly shows a burn on his hand sustained while fighting a fire. Several firefighters have suffered injuries or developed respiratory problems. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

The crews working to extinguish the fires include firefighters, machine operators, mechanics, engineers and health and safety experts. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Signs of ISIL are common in Qayyarah, which was under the group's control for more than two years. The ISIL flag is seen painted on an old oil tank by the road leading to the oil wells, a road that was littered with explosives planted by ISIL. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

Children play near the burning oil wells in Qayyarah. [Claire Thomas/Al Jazeera]

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