What kind of pink powder is being sprayed over California and how it helps fight wildfires

As crews battle the devastating wildfires in California, eyewitnesses are uploading photos and videos of a bright pink powder being sprayed by firefighters from airplanes. The substance that attracts attention is flame retardant, a fire retardant.

Officials said that thousands of gallons of the pink substance have been dropped over the past week to stop the flames from spreading. Experts emphasize that the key ingredient in the flame retardant is ammonium phosphate, which is commonly found in fertilizers, so it does not harm the environment, NBCNews reports.

According to experts, flame retardant has been used to fight fires in the United States since 1963 and is the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, BBC reports.

The flame retardant is a product known as Phos-Chek, which is sold by Perimeter. It is the most used fire retardant in the world.

"Phos-Chek is a fertilizer-based retardant. It's the same ingredients that are used in your lawn care fertilizer," said Shannon Horne, COO of Perimeter Solutions.

The flame retardant is primarily composed of water and ammonium phosphate, as well as pink dye, to improve aerial drop accuracy and visibility of already treated areas, according to the powder's developers.

Scientists explain that when used in flame retardants, ammonium phosphate can change the way cellulose in plants reacts to heat. Usually, plants exposed to the heat of a fire begin to decompose and become fuel, but Phos-Chek acts as a coating, creating a barrier that consumes heat energy. The reaction produces a non-flammable carbon material that slows down the fire.

The developers of Phos-Chek reassure that there is no need to worry that a pink cloud will cover the yard, house, or car. After all, over time, the powder can fade in sunlight and is easily washed off with water without leaving stains.

However, the US Forest Service and the US Department of the Interior require that aircraft do not drop fire retardants within 90 meters of waterways. However, some exceptions can be made, including if "the potential damage to natural resources outweighs the potential loss of aquatic life," the Forest Service says.

The main environmental problem associated with retardant is the presence of heavy metals. A study last year found that one version of Phos-Chek contained higher levels of metals such as cadmium and chromium, which are no longer safe under regulations.

However, Shannon Horne emphasized that the version of Phos-Chek produced in California is "a different product than the one that was used many years ago," so it is safe.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!