In early 1991, the world watched in horror as massive plumes of black smoke choked the skies over Kuwait. In a desperate act of sabotage, Saddam Hussein’s retreating Iraqi forces ignited hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells, plunging the region into an environmental catastrophe of historic proportions. What followed was a months-long battle against an inferno of biblical scale—one that not only reshaped Kuwait’s landscape but also tested the limits of human ingenuity, endurance, and resilience.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into the events surrounding the Kuwaiti oil fires—why they happened, how they were fought, and the long-lasting consequences that linger to this day.
Prelude to Disaster: The Gulf War and Saddam’s Scorched Earth Policy
The first Gulf War began on August 2, 1990, when Iraq, led by dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded the small but oil-rich country of Kuwait. The invasion was swift, and Iraq occupied Kuwait within days. However, Hussein and his military leadership knew that a global response was inevitable.
They were right. A US-led coalition of 42 nations soon assembled in Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield. By January 17, 1991, the coalition launched Operation Desert Storm, a devastating aerial and ground assault that quickly overwhelmed Iraqi forces.
Realizing that defeat was imminent, Saddam’s military turned to a scorched earth strategy, ensuring that if they couldn’t have Kuwait’s wealth, no one else would. Their main target? Kuwait’s oil industry, the lifeblood of its economy.
How the Fires Began
Iraqi forces wasted no time in rigging Kuwait’s vast oil infrastructure with explosives. Their demolition squads, made up of 30-40 military engineers and over 1,000 detonation experts, used C4 explosives to destroy wellheads, pipelines, and refineries.
They practiced their methods on mock wells in December 1990, ensuring their technique was as destructive as possible. By mid-January 1991, the first fires erupted in the Wafra oil field. By the time Iraq was fully pushed out of Kuwait, they had ignited 640 oil wells, turning the desert into a nightmarish landscape of fire, smoke, and toxic sludge.
Some wells that were sabotaged didn’t ignite but instead leaked millions of barrels of oil into the desert, forming over 100 crude oil lakes, some as deep as 2 meters. Others were intentionally dumped into trenches and set on fire in a futile attempt to slow the coalition’s advance.
By February 24, 1991, satellite imagery showed a massive 60-kilometer-wide super plume of thick black smoke covering Kuwait, blotting out the sun and reducing daylight to a dim twilight. The fires burned relentlessly for nearly a year.
The Battle to Extinguish the Fires
The damage was done, and now the focus turned to putting out the flames. This was no ordinary firefighting mission—these were the largest oil fires in history.
Project Alaa: The Plan to Stop the Inferno
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) led the charge in what they called “Project Alaa”, or “The Return.” KOC personnel worldwide, along with international governments and private contractors, came together in an unprecedented collaboration to tackle the disaster.
This effort included:
- 11,450 personnel, including firefighters, engineers, and support staff.
- 5,000 pieces of heavy equipment and machinery.
- 450 kilometers of piping to transport water.
- Millions of gallons of water, sourced from 361 man-made lagoons and the Persian Gulf.
By March 15, 1991, the first teams arrived in Kuwait, and the war against the fires began.
The Firefighting Forces: The Big Four and More
Four specialized firefighting companies—known as The Big Four—were hired to lead the efforts:
- Red Adair Company (USA)
- Boots & Coots (USA)
- Wild Well Control (USA)
- Safety Boss (Canada)
Later, firefighting teams from 35 different countries, including France, Hungary, the UK, China, Iran, and even the USSR, joined the fight.
Kuwait also formed its own team, the Kuwait Wild Well Killers, who stunned their international colleagues by extinguishing one well in a record-breaking 12 minutes.
The biggest scorers? Canada’s Safety Boss, which put out an astonishing 126 fires in just five months.
How Did They Put Out the Fires?
The methods used to extinguish the oil fires ranged from tried-and-true techniques to outrageous innovations:
- Dynamite – By strategically placing explosives around wellheads, they could blast away oxygen and starve the fire.
- Water Jets – Massive amounts of water (1 million liters per hour) were sprayed to cool down the wellheads.
- Raising the Plume – A metal casing was placed over the well, forcing the fire upwards while liquid nitrogen or water smothered it.
- The Master Blaster – A modified Soviet T-55 tank fitted with jet engines from a MiG-21 fighter plane blasted fires with extreme force.
- Bulldozer Clamps – Red Adair’s team used a bulldozer with a mechanical arm to physically clamp down on burning wells.
Beating the Odds: Extinguishing the Fires in Record Time
Kuwait and its allies initially estimated it would take 2 to 5 years to extinguish all the fires. Miraculously, they did it in just over seven months, with the last fire capped on November 6, 1991.
Environmental and Health Impacts
The damage caused by the fires was staggering:
Environmental Destruction
- Over 20 million barrels of oil polluted Kuwait’s land.
- 11 million barrels spilled into the Persian Gulf.
- 5% of Kuwait’s land was covered in hardened tar from soot and oil.
- Wildlife was devastated, with livestock and marine life suffocating from oil exposure.
Health Effects on Firefighters and Troops
Short-term symptoms among Gulf War veterans and firefighting crews included:
- Severe respiratory issues (coughing, shortness of breath).
- Skin rashes and fatigue.
- Eye irritation and headaches.
However, long-term studies did not find conclusive evidence linking the fires to chronic illnesses like cancer. Gulf War Syndrome, a mysterious illness affecting one-third of veterans, may have had multiple causes, including exposure to burning oil.
The Legacy of the Kuwaiti Oil Fires
Even after the last flame was snuffed out, the damage lingered. $5 billion was spent on firefighting and rebuilding infrastructure, with an overall economic loss of up to $116 billion when adjusted for inflation.
Environmental remediation was slow—only in 2020 did Kuwait finally start large-scale soil cleanup projects, and even today, much of the country’s land and water remains contaminated.
Despite all this, the Kuwaiti oil fires stand as a testament to human perseverance. Against impossible odds, thousands of firefighters, engineers, and specialists from around the world worked tirelessly to undo Saddam Hussein’s scorched earth tactics. Their efforts saved countless lives and prevented what could have been an even greater catastrophe.
Final Thought: The Darkest Skies, the Brightest Heroes
The Kuwaiti oil fires were among the worst environmental disasters in history, but they also showcased the bravery and skill of those who fought to contain them. When the world was plunged into darkness, it was their determination that lit the way forward.
FAQ: The Kuwaiti Oil Fires
Q: How long did the fires burn?
A: The fires burned for 10 months, from January to November 1991.
Q: How many wells were set on fire?
A: 640 wells were deliberately ignited by Iraqi forces.
Q: What was the biggest environmental impact?
A: Over 20 million barrels of oil spilled into the desert, creating over 100 toxic oil lakes.
Q: How were the fires put out?
A: A combination of water jets, explosives, bulldozers, and even jet-powered tanks.
Q: Did the fires cause long-term health problems?
A: Studies show no definitive link, but many veterans and firefighters reported respiratory issues.