Massive Fire Erupts in Iran’s Parand

(MENAFN) Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the skyline over Parand, southwest of the Iranian capital Tehran, on Wednesday, as footage of the dramatic scene spread rapidly across social media.

Local officials confirmed the fire originated in dry reed beds lining the banks of the Roudshur River, within the city that serves as a key corridor connecting Tehran to Markazi province.

State media quoted Vahid Joudaki, head of the Parand Fire Department, as saying that "the presence of dry, highly inflammable vegetation in the area has frequently led to fires in the reed beds, mostly triggered by negligence or hunting activities in nearby forested areas."

Joudaki confirmed that emergency crews were rapidly deployed and that containment operations were actively underway. Rahmatollah Paydar, Mayor of Parand, corroborated the account in separate remarks to a state-run news agency, saying that "the fire is under control and extinguishing efforts are ongoing."

Despite Parand's strategic significance — the city houses multiple critical military installations and a major power plant — authorities stressed the blaze did not ignite anywhere near those facilities. No evidence of deliberate sabotage has emerged.

The incident adds to a growing pattern of fire outbreaks reported across numerous Iranian cities and provinces in recent months, fueling widespread public speculation. Iranian authorities, however, have consistently pushed back against suggestions of foreign interference, attributing each incident to domestic causes including human negligence and inadequate safety measures.

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