As wildfires continue to burn in Southern California, bright pink fire retardant has become a common sight. The fires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, have been devastating, claiming at least 25 lives and scorching around 40,000 acres. The article explains the composition and purpose of Phos-Chek, the primary fire retardant used, highlighting its effectiveness in slowing blazes and providing firefighters with precious time. It also delves into the environmental concerns associated with its use, particularly the presence of heavy metals, and addresses the debate surrounding its potential long-term health effects.
As the wildfires in Southern California continue to burn, streaks of bright pink fire retardant have become a familiar sight. Fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the fires have killed at least 25 people and burned around 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area. More than a week after it ignited, the area's largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, was 19% contained as of Wednesday. Los Angeles County has declared a public health emergency because of the smoke.
Nic Lynn, Neptune Aviation’s vice president of operations, said three of the company's air tankers are in use in Southern California. The planes use designated, government-established air tanker bases, he explained. “We go to those pre-established tanker bases, where they mix the retardant and pump it into the airplanes. Kind of think of us like we’re a dump truck. We’ll carry the product from A to B,” he said.
WILDFIRES FIREFIGHTING PHOS-CHEK ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HEALTH CONCERNS
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