As devastating wildfires rage through the Los Angeles area, aircraft are dropping a hot-pink fire suppressant to combat the flames. But what is in these retardants and are they safe for people and wildlife?
The Science Behind Pink Flame Retardants: How They Help Combat California Wildfires
In the midst of devastating wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area, aircraft are dropping more than water to combat the flames. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of hot-pink fire suppressant are being dropped ahead of the fires in a desperate effort to stop them before they destroy more neighborhoods.
What is in Fire Retardants and Are They Safe?
Fire agencies say that these suppressants, most often used to fight forest fires, are an invaluable tool. But what is in them and are they safe for people and wildlife? Aerial fire suppressants are generally a mixture of water, ammonium phosphate (essentially fertilizer), and iron oxide, which is added to make the retardant visible.
How Do Fire Retardants Work?
The Forest Service says that these suppressants help starve a fire of oxygen and slow the rate of burn by cooling and coating vegetation and other surfaces. Perimeter, the company that supplies fire retardant to the Forest Service and other agencies, claims that the phosphate changes the way cellulose in plants decomposes and makes them non-flammable.
Potential Effects on Environment and Wildlife
While generally considered safe for people, many worry about the potential effects of fire suppressants on wildlife. The Forest Service bans use of aerial suppressants over waterways and endangered species habitats, except when human life or public safety are threatened, due to potential health effects on fish and other wildlife.
Research has shown that wildfire smoke accounted for up to half of all health-damaging particle air pollution in the western U.S. in recent years as warming temperatures fueled more destructive blazes. Moreover, research released last year by the Alzheimer’s Association found that wildfire smoke may be worse for brain health than other types of air pollution, raising the risk of dementia.
The Importance of Fire Retardants
The use of fire retardants is imperative to putting out wildfires that expose millions of people to health risks, including from a toxic mix of microscopic particles that can cause breathing and heart problems by penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream. “The use of wildland fire retardant is the best way to save lives, protect communities and keep fires small,” said Edward Goldberg, vice chairman of solutions at Perimeter.
While more study is needed on fire suppressants, including in Los Angeles once the fires are out, experts understand their value: “If there was a brush fire coming for my house, I’d still rather paint a lot of (fire retardant) in front of it,” said Daniel McCurry, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Southern California.
