Flame retardants like ones used in wildfires are also used in cladding and electrical appliances. Some are toxic for humans and the environment.

Common fire retardants, such PHOS-CHEK, which is used in Los Angeles, include fertilizers, such as ammonium polyphosphate, diammonium phosphate and diammonium sulfate, as well as monoammonium ...

Environmental experts have said that spraying fire retardant using planes is ineffective, expensive and a growing source of pollution for rivers and streams ...

Aerial fire suppressants are generally a mixture of water, ammonium phosphate — essentially fertilizer — and iron oxide, which is added to make the retardant visible, said Daniel McCurry ...