aircraft in combat Fires rage in Los Angeles area contaminating the area with more than water: Hundreds of thousands of gallons of hot pink extinguishing agent were dropped ahead of the blaze in a desperate effort to stop the blaze before it destroyed more areas.
of deadly The fires have displaced thousands of residents and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings since the fires broke out on January 7 last Tuesday. santa ana wind Cal Fire said about 62 square miles were scorched.
Fire officials say the suppressant, which is most commonly used to extinguish forest fires, is an invaluable tool. But what’s in it and is it safe?
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Here’s what you need to know:
When should fire extinguishing agents be used?
Cal Fire said the fire was burning quickly in canyons and other rugged areas that were difficult for firefighters on the ground to reach.
Fire extinguishers are highly effective, but they also have limitations, officials said. Strong winds can make flying at the low altitude required for a fall extremely dangerous, and the retardant can dissipate before hitting the ground.
In addition to Cal Fire, multiple agencies dropped retardant and water, including the U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County and Ventura County fire departments, cities, and the National Guard.
What does an airborne extinguishing agent contain?
Daniel McCurry, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Southern California, said aviation fire extinguishers typically contain water, ammonium phosphate (essentially fertilizer), and flame retardants added to make them visible. It is said to be a mixture of iron oxides.
The Forest Service used 13 planes to drop retardants on the Los Angeles wildfires, which slow the rate of combustion by preventing oxygen starvation in fires and cooling and coating vegetation and other surfaces. states that it is helpful.
Perimeter, which supplies flame retardants to the Forest Service and other agencies, says phosphates change the way plants break down cellulose, making them nonflammable.
Although fire extinguishing agents are generally considered safe for humans, many are concerned about the potential effects on wildlife.
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The Forest Service prohibits the use of airborne suppressants in waterways and endangered species habitat “unless human life or public safety is threatened” due to potential health effects on fish and other wildlife. It is prohibited.
McCurry and other researchers at USC said they tested several inhibitors and detected heavy metals, including chromium and cadmium, in inhibitors commonly used by the U.S. Forest Service.
McCurry said the findings suggest it is “plausible” that extinguishing agents may be contributing to the spike in chromium and other heavy metals in waterways downstream of wildfires. Ta.
“Conclusive evidence has yet to be found because it is difficult, if not impossible, to prove where heavy metals come from,” McCurry said. “We’re working on it.”
Perimeter, which makes flame retardants for the Forest Service, said McCurry’s study involves a formulation that is not used in California and is not currently used by the Forest Service. The company also says it does not add naturally occurring metals to all of its ammonium phosphate fertilizers and that its airborne retardants have been “thoroughly tested by the USDA Forest Service and meet all health and safety standards.” It meets or exceeds it.”
Protecting the power grid with flame retardants
Some power companies in the Los Angeles area also use flame retardants to protect utility poles and wires. CBS Los Angeles reported..
Crews have been working for days, stopping at as many power poles as possible around wildfires, including the Palisades Fire along the Los Angeles coast and the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena and Altadena mountains.
First, remove dry shrubbery from around the poles, then use a truck to spray each pole with fire retardant. Flame retardant is the same substance that firefighting aircraft drop from the air. They try to spray the tops of the columns and all cracks as much as possible so that the embers cannot get a foothold.
“That way, if a fire breaks out, we don’t have to worry about embers spreading,” said Connor Norton, one of the PG&E employees working in North Hollywood on Sunday.
“The best way to save lives”
The use of flame retardants is essential to extinguishing wildfires that expose millions of people to fires. health risksThis contains a toxic mixture of microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and cause respiratory and heart problems.
Wildfire smoke accounts for up to half of the health-damaging particulate air pollution in the western United States in recent years, as rising temperatures have led to an increase in destructive fires, a study has found.
And a study published last year by the Alzheimer’s Association found that wildfire smoke can be more harmful to brain health and increase the risk of dementia than other types of air pollution.
“Using wildland flame retardants is the best way to save lives, protect communities and keep fires small,” said Edward Goldberg, Perimeter’s vice president of solutions.
McCurry, the University of Southern California researcher, said more research is needed on extinguishing agents, including in Los Angeles after the fires are extinguished, but he understands their value: “If a wildfire hits my house, If it comes, I’m still better than painting it.” There’s a lot of (fire retardant) before that. ”
Dean Fioresi contributed to this report.
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