In order to stop the spread of the fires that have ravaged Los Angeles since January 7, planes are dropping flame retardant products on forest areas and residential areas.
Amazing landscapes. Since January 7, Los Angeles and its surrounding areas have been ravaged by flames. More than 164 square kilometers, the equivalent of one and a half times the surface of Paris, went up in smoke and at least 24 people died in giant fires.
One of the most virulent, in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood located west of Los Angeles, is particularly difficult to control.
Strong winds fan the flames and the affected areas, steep and wooded, are very difficult to access by land. This is why firefighters rely heavily on aerial means.
A barrier against flames
Water bomber helicopters make it possible to act as close as possible to the blazes, but their low carrying capacity is not always enough. This is why firefighters use specialized firefighting planes, Canadairs, or airliners modified for this purpose, such as the DC-10 Air Tanker.
These aircraft can cover greater distances at higher speeds than helicopters and, above all, discharge several thousand liters of water or retarding products (up to 35,000 liters for the largest of them, the DC- 10 Air Tanker).
The latter, composed of water and ammonium phosphate, help slow down the combustion of materials or plants and create real barriers to flames.
A potentially toxic but essential product
They also contain iron oxide, giving them a bright red and sometimes pink color, which allows firefighters to precisely identify covered areas. Often used in the wilderness on forest fires, they have also been poured on the neighborhoods of Los Angeles most exposed to fires.
Some streets have been completely repainted in red or pink. Unreal landscapes that contrast with the charred surroundings. But this product is not without danger, since it also contains chromium and cadmium, heavy metals harmful to human health and plants.
“We don’t have hard evidence yet, because it’s hard to prove the origin of heavy metal pollution, but it’s a hypothesis,” said Daniel McCurry, a professor at the University of California. South to the Associated Press.
Despite a risk of pollution linked to the use of these retardant products, they remain effective means of fighting fires. “If there was a fire heading towards my house, I would still prefer to paint my house with it,” Daniel McCurry said.
Cleaning operations in areas covered with retardant products are carried out once these areas are out of danger from flames. The authorities nevertheless recommend that residents equip themselves with protection so as not to come into direct contact with these substances.
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