Wildland Fire Chemicals
Submission Procedures and Specifications by Product Type
This page provides guidance for submitting wildland fire chemical products for evaluation and testing before they can be qualified for use by federal firefighting agencies.
Long-term retardants
Contain retardant salts (typically fertilizers) that alter the way the fire burns, decreasing the fire intensity and slowing the advance of the fire, even after the water they originally contained has evaporated.
The water they contain serves primarily to aid in uniform dispersal of the chemical over the target area.
Long-term retardants submission procedure and specifications
Foam fire suppressants
Contain foaming and wetting agents. The foaming agents affect the accuracy of an aerial drop, how fast the water drains from the foam and how well the product clings to the fuel surfaces. The wetting agents increase the ability of the drained water to penetrate fuels.
They depend on the water that they contain to suppress the fire.
Foam fire suppressants submission procedure and specifications
Water enhancers
Contain ingredients designed to alter the physical characteristics of water to increase effectiveness, accuracy of the drop, or adhesion to fuels.
They also improve the ability of water to cling to vertical and smooth surfaces.
They depend on the water that they contain to suppress the fire.
Water enhancers submission procedure and specifications