The pink fire retardant that are saving Los Angeles homes

Fighting deadly infernos from the air

Parts of Southern California are covered with pink fire retardant as firefighters try to control deadly wildfires raging in Los Angeles. But what is Phos-Chek fire retardant and is it safe?

Pink fire retardant is raining from the skies in Los Angeles as firefighters try everything they can to contain several deadly wildfires. Air tankers have dropped thousands of gallons of pink — or reddish — fire retardant to slow the spread of wildfires, which have killed at least 24 people at the time of this reporting. 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.

January 16, 2025 | 5:45 am