Wildfires: What do we know about the red 'retardant' dropped over forests?
- Posted on July 31, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Aerial firefighting deploys specialized chemical retardants to combat advancing wildfires, with FIRE-TROL 931 being a primary formulation composed of water and ammonium polyphosphate compounds. Although these substances present certain ecological considerations, environmental scientists argue that their localized impact remains substantially lower than the widespread damage caused by uncontrolled fires and the resulting smoke pollution affecting both air quality and public health across affected regions.
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Wildfires: What do we know about the red 'retardant' dropped over forests?
Used to slow the advance of flames, FIRE-TROL 931 is made up mainly of water and ammonium polyphosphate. While it does have some environmental impact, the risk is minor compared to the effects of wildfires and their smoke on human health and the environment.
