Saddam Hussein set Kuwait’s oil fields ablaze, burning 5 million barrels a day. Some said the fires could last 100 years—until crews showed up with dynamite, Soviet tanks, and fighter jet engines.
Thanks to Matt Siben for pointing me to this doc. He also shared a free YouTube link to the full version.
Watch “Fires of Kuwait” (Full Documentary)
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Even the sand was on fire! Oil soaked the desert floor while hundreds of wells shot flames hundreds of feet into the sky.
- They used 200 pounds of TNT to blow out a fire! At Kuwait’s Magwa Well No. 40, firefighter Coots Matthews lowered a drum of explosives toward the flames. BOOM! The blast blew the fire right off the well.
- The Hungarians turned a Soviet T-34 tank into a giant fire extinguisher! They strapped on two MiG-21 fighter jet engines and blasted burning wells with air and water. They called it “Big Wind”—and it nearly lifted the tank off the ground!
Watch “Fires of Kuwait”
You can watch the full documentary free on YouTube. You can also check JustWatch for other viewing options, including DVD.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 95 (Audience), not yet rated (Critics)
Director’s Note: David Douglas wrote and directed this 36-minute documentary, which was filmed in IMAX and narrated by actor Rip Torn. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject.
Release Date: 1992
Other Unique Stuff
- Thick black smoke blocked the sun across parts of Kuwait. The IMAX footage makes it look like the end of the world.
- The oil formed giant lakes in the desert. Some lakes caught fire. Others became toxic pools.
- They put out the last fire on November 6, 1991. Experts feared the wells could burn for years, even decades. Firefighters knocked them all out in just eight months.
Wrap Up:
“Fires of Kuwait” is one of the best documentaries I’ve seen about human ingenuity under pressure. If you want to see guys fight oil fires with TNT, Soviet tanks, and fighter jet engines, this 36-minute doc is worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc