Tolerance Reigns Among Baghdad's Bravest

A new set of heroes has been forged in Baghdad's desperation. CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports.

Every day, 24/7, calls flood in to the emergency center that coordinates Baghdad's fire fighters.

They strive to be 100 percent reliable — in a city where little else is.

"As firefighters, we stay far away from politics. Our job is to help anyone, any time," says shift supervisor Salah Hassan Fayal.

Salhiyeh Fire Station has six trucks. Some were bought by Saddam with oil revenue. Others were donated.

And the men are proud of their modern equipment.

Baghdad's chronic power failures have meant more major fires since the invasion, as people have installed primitive generators and gas appliances in their homes.

Such blazes are one thing, but more often the aftermath of a car bombing is the really dangerous business of the day.

And even more daunting: having to pick up body parts after a suicide bomb — especially with bullets flying.

There's no room here for ethnic tension. In fact, its tolerance, and even a morning workout, that makes Baghdad's bravest a close-knit team.

A regular salary of $200 to $300 a month also helps keep morale high.

So when the alarm goes, the response is instant.

That's what makes a fire siren here sound reassuring. It reminds people in a city riddled with violence and uncertainty that, at the very least, the fireman's skill and compassion is just a phone call away.