The worst wildfire in the western U.S. city of Los Angeles has yet to be contained. Fire authorities are spraying a fire delay agent called “Phos check,” which is drawing attention. As a result, the entire forest fire area in LA is covered with red and pink, raising concerns.
According to local media such as USA Today and the Daily Mail on the 13th (local time), the fire department in Los Angeles, California, used nine planes and 20 water-dropping helicopters to spray pink fire delay agents on the scene. Factories, buildings, houses, and vehicles in the Los Angeles area, which are currently affected by the forest fire, are all colored pink.
The fire retardant, which firefighters have used at wildfire sites for more than 50 years, consists of a mixture of chemicals, including ammonium polyphosphate. It is known to be effective in slowing or suppressing the spread of flames as it adheres to materials longer than water. It is mainly sprayed before a fire breaks out to coat combustible areas such as plants and use it to prevent oxygen from burning.
It contains iron oxide and has a bright pink color. It can be easily identified by helicopters and airplanes working in the air, as well as by firefighters extinguishing fires on the ground.
The pink color is expected to fade naturally within a few months. Iron oxide is tarnished by weathering, rain or other environmental factors. The retardant also passed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) environmental safety standard test. The manufacturer describes it as “the safest, most effective and most environmentally friendly product” on its website.
Concerns are raised by some. A University of California study found that heavy metals are included in fire retardants, but the manufacturer refutes this.
In addition, the fire delay system is only serving as a defense line, and it is still having difficulty putting out fires. According to the California Fire Department, the rate of forest fires as of the previous day was 11 percent for Feliz and 27 percent for Eaton. As of the morning of the 12th, the Kenneth Fire near the West Hills in the San Fernando Valley was 100 percent contained, and the Hurst Fire was 89 percent contained.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
