Parts of Southern California are covered with pink fire retardant as firefighters try to control deadly wildfires raging in ...

As fire crews and air tankers work to block the wildfires' explosive growth, images of red clouds of fire retardant falling onto trees are common. What is it — and what's in it?

The U.S. Forest Service bans the use of long-term fire retardant on federal lands near waterways or endangered species ...

Perimeter, the company that supplies fire retardant to the Forest Service and other agencies, says the phosphate changes the way cellulose in plants decomposes and makes them non-flammable.

Phos-Chek's maker says the reaction between the retardant and cellulose consumes heat energy from the approaching fire and produces non-flammable carbon material. The goal is to slow or stop the ...

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 ...