Aerial Response: Firefighters are combating multiple wildfires in Los Angeles by dropping thousands of gallons of Phos-Chek LC95, a red flame retardant.
Composition: This retardant is made up of a mixture of water, fertilizer, and rust, with ammonium phosphate being the active ingredient to help slow fire spread.
Mechanism: Phos-Chek prevents fire from spreading by consuming heat energy from flames and converting combustibles into non-flammable materials.
Safety Measures: The U.S. Forest Service has restrictions on retardant drops in sensitive areas, and Phos-Chek does not contain hazardous substances listed under California’s Proposition 65.
Risks to Aviators: Pilots conducting these operations face significant dangers, with a history of aviation-related fatalities in wildfire fighting.