The devastating flames have already caused the death of 25 people, more than 80,000 evacuees and the burning of 15,000 hectares. The dust went viral on social networks by dyeing the entire city its characteristic color.
It’s been more than a week since the intense fires in Los Angelesin California, which devastated suburbs, hills, burned around 15,000 hectares and that, for the moment, caused the death of 25 people and more than 80,000 evacuees.
After the shocking and surprising images about the fires and the work of rescue teams, firefighters and others, a spot observation caught the attention of many people: the launch and the streets dyed with a bright red to pink powder.
This substancewhich was seen on houses, cars, streets and different areas, is poured from the seaplanes and its main objective is to power slow the spread of flames when mixed with water.
Pink powder Los Angeles.png
What is pink dust and how does it fight fire?
This characteristic dust and chemical compound is known as retardantas it helps the poured water to smother the flames take longer to evaporate and therefore, its effect to put out the fire is more effective and lasting.
His llamative pink/reddish color does not have a specific function in its chemical compositionmore than being a visual aid for pilots and firefighters when spreading it over different areas.
According to the United States Forest Serviceretardants “slow down the speed of spread cooling and coating fuels, depleting oxygen from the fire and slowing the rate of combustion of materials as the inorganic retardant salts “they change the way fuels are burned.”
The impact on the environment
The use of this retardant generated throughout history many controversy for its possible negative effects about him environment and the ecologysince in most cases it is usually used on forests or natural areas. These chemical compounds are generally “phosphate salts, phosphates and polyphosphates to which another series of additives are added that can be pollutants and affect even the land where they arrive,” explained a firefighter from the Reinforcement Brigades in Forest Fires.
After several lawsuits, complaints and problems, the company in charge of developing and manufacturing these powders was gradually eliminating certain compounds in their formulas to avoid using the most toxic and compromising.
Source: Ambito
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