Until society finds better solutions to manage the worsening wildfire crisis, we will keep seeing aircraft dumping large plumes of chemicals in an attempt to control the spread of these fires. But have you ever wondered what exactly these planes are dropping? Is the fire retardant harmful to people, animals, or the environment? What should you do if chemicals from these drops land on your property?
Summary:
- PHOS-CHeK is the most widely used spray. It’s approximately 90% water, with some fertilizers and proprietary chemicals making up the remaining portion. Rust, or iron oxide, is added because the red color contrasts better against the landscape than other colors.
- The retardant spray doesn't put out fires directly. Instead, it creates a firebreak, essentially acting as a barrier to slow or stop the fire's progress, similar to how firefighters might build physical barriers to contain or redirect flames.
- PHOS-CHeK is typically not dangerous to humans or animals unless ingested. Skin contact is usually not a big issue, but any food or drinking water that has come into contact with the chemicals should be discarded.
- If your property gets sprayed, rinse it off with water, but avoid using a pressure washer, as it can drive the chemicals deeper into surfaces like paint.
- As reliance on these sprays increases, especially near urban areas, the risk of water contamination becomes significant. Basic portable water filters likely won’t be effective in removing these chemicals if you need to consume the water.
What's Actually in Those Red Clouds?
While several products are used, PHOS-CHeK is the most common. Originally developed by Monsanto in the 1960s, it has changed hands multiple times. PHOS-CHeK is technically a whole product line, but many refer to it simply as the label for the standard red spray.
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Approximately 85-95% of the cloud is water. The active ingredient is ammonium phosphate or ammonium polyphosphate, both of which are commonly found in fertilizers. The rest of the mixture is largely proprietary.
The red coloring? That’s iron oxide, or rust, used to make it easier for pilots to see where they've applied the PHOS-CHeK.
"We've tried yellow, white, blue, every other color you can think of, and red is about the only thing you can see. Everything else just blends in," Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions, the maker of PHOS-CHeK, told the LA Times.
How Is PHOS-CHeK Used?
PHOS-CHeK isn’t intended to extinguish fires but serves as a firebreak. An environmental survey of PHOS-CHeK describes it as follows:
"The retardant solution is applied on threatened vegetation in the form of a chemical firebreak ahead of an advancing fire. This solution coats the fuel and, as the fire approaches and the water in the retardant evaporates, the fire retardant reacts with the cellulose in the wood, grass, needles, and other materials that typically fuel the fire. (The water in the fire retardant acts primarily as a carrier, evaporating before the fire arrives and contributing little to fire retardation.) As heating continues, the fire-retarded material decomposes, releasing water vapor that cools the fire and leaves behind a black, graphite-like, non-flammable carbon coating that both insulates and restricts airflow to any remaining fuel. This reduces the fire's intensity, making it easier to control."
In essence, the coating turns the outer layer of trees and other fuel into charcoal instead of allowing them to burn brightly, which releases some of the natural moisture inside the tree, cooling things down. It’s somewhat akin to putting armor around the fuel while misting the surrounding area with water.
Some argue that fire retardants don’t work well enough to justify their environmental impact. Timothy Ingalsbee of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology and Andy Stahl of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics both told Gizmodo that these "bombings" serve more as a display of force than an actual solution. Others believe that letting some fires burn naturally, especially those not close to residential areas, would be better. Some Native American tribes have criticized fire prevention efforts, arguing they disrupt natural cycles vital to their traditional ways of life. Stahl also contends that the U.S. Forest Service suppresses too many small fires, leading to larger, uncontrollable blazes.
Is Fire Retardant Hazardous to People or Animals?
PHOS-CHeK is generally safe for humans. It can be a respiratory irritant in powdered form, just as any powder can. It may cause skin irritation and dryness, which can be remedied by washing with soap and water and applying moisturizer.
However, being directly underneath a drop isn’t advisable. "Being hit by a 500-gallon water balloon... that's what it would be like to get hit by a direct drop," Dan Turner, executive director of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Institute, told the LA Times.
Ingesting PHOS-CHeK is another matter entirely—discard any food that’s been exposed, and fill or drain any pools of water where animals might drink. British Columbia, Canada, states that if accidentally ingested, first aid may not be necessary, but you should still contact poison control or a doctor.
Does PHOS-CHeK Affect the Environment?
The environmental impact of fire retardants is more controversial. Since it’s essentially fertilizer, there are concerns it could disrupt ecosystems. However, studies on this topic are limited. A 2005 study found that a single application killed some plants while encouraging weeds:
"A single application of Phos-Chek did not appear to significantly alter species composition or projected foliage cover of the major life forms of native heathland vegetation. However, it did cause whole plant and shoot death of key species Allocasuarina paludosa, Banksia marginata, Leptospermum continentale and L. myrsinoides, and was observed to affect other species. The fertilizing effect of the fire retardant generally increased shoot growth of the key species but did not significantly increase the overall height of these species. The application of fire retardant enhanced weed invasion, particularly when supplied at higher concentrations."
The salts in the fertilizer could also harm plants. But compared to the alternative of being burned, it's a bit of a toss-up.
The bigger concern is what fire retardants do to waterways. Federal regulations prohibit spreading retardant within 300 feet of waterways. Yet accidents happen, and the likelihood of accidental water contamination is expected to rise as wildfires become more frequent.
For instance, in 2002, over a thousand pounds of retardant were dropped into Fall River in Oregon, killing 22,000 trout. A 2014 study by scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service found that fire retardants are lethal to salmon.
"Studies show that a single retardant drop directly into a stream may cause a sufficient ammonia concentration in the water to be lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms," Jennifer Jones of the United States Forest Service told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Perhaps the biggest threat is that the fertilizers in fire retardants can lead to excessive algae growth, particularly toxic blue-green algae (actually cyanobacteria). In 2016, it killed a golden retriever in under half an hour. It’s been suspected in the recent death of a Northern California family, leading to river closures.
What Does PHOS-CHeK Do to Drinking Water?
Drinking water contamination is less of a concern than the broader environmental impact. Generally, contamination from the wildfire itself is worse than from the fire retardant. A 2005 study found that fire retardants had minimal effects on surface water quality. Two things to be aware of from fire retardant use are nitrate contamination and algae.
Nitrate is more problematic in groundwater than in municipal water. It’s tasteless and odorless, so the only way to detect it is through laboratory testing. Formula-fed infants are most at risk. High concentrations of nitrates in the blood cause a condition called "blue baby syndrome."
Your first line of defense should always be a high-quality water filter that removes chemicals. Many home water filters like those from Berkey, Alexapure, and St. Paul Mercantile filter chemicals to some extent. However, most portable water filters only address bacteria and biological threats, not chemicals. Always have stored water available for when you can’t access tap water or the water is too contaminated to filter. Check out the water survival skills course for more on handling these types of extreme situations.
More: Hackers recently breached a Florida water treatment plant and nearly poisoned the town with lye. How do you prepare for attacks like this?
Flame retardants used on furniture are notorious for various health risks, including hormonal disruption and decreased fertility. However, these are different chemicals than those used in fire retardants like PHoS-CHeK, which doesn’t have any known long-term health impacts.
My House Was Sprayed With Fire Retardant. How Do I Clean It Off?
NBC Los Angeles offers some tips for cleaning off fire retardant. In short, rinse it with a hose, but avoid a pressure washer, as it can embed the chemical in surfaces. A soft-bristle brush can help. On its own, it will fade in sunlight in a few weeks. Discard any contaminated food.
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