The pink fire retardant that are saving Los Angeles homes

Fighting deadly infernos from the air

Plant cell walls are made up of cellulose, which normally decomposes when heated to produce more fuel for the fire. However, Perimeter Solutions says that its retardant alters the decomposition of cellulose and creates a non-flammable carbon, which doesn’t fuel flames.

“This deprives the fire of fuel, reducing fire intensity and rate of spread,” Perimeter Solutions states on the MVP-Fx product data sheet. The bright pink color allows pilots and firefighters to see the retardant from the ground and from the air. This color then slowly fades when exposed to sunlight, according to Perimeter Solutions. “Phos-Chek is a fertilizer-based retardant product. It’s the same ingredients that are used on your fertilizer for lawn care,” said Shannon Horn, chief operating officer at Perimeter Solutions, the maker of Phos-Chek.

January 16, 2025 | 5:45 am