Long-term forest fire retardants: a review of quality, effectiveness, application and environmental considerations

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 1930s research has been directed towards improving the effectiveness of water as a forest fire extinguishing agent. Throughout this time various chemical substances have been added to the water, and this is still the case today. Among these substances are the various types of long-term forest fire retardant, which maintain their ability to alter combustion when the water has been removed by evaporation. In order to provide an account of the current state of development of studies on long-term forest fire retardants, we carried out a bibliographic analysis with special attention to work done after 1976 on the different aspects that influence the final effectiveness of forest fire retardant: quality (programs and evaluation), effectiveness, application and environmental impact on streams and aquatic organisms, vegetation and humans. The scope of this work covers the wide subject of fire retardants and it introduces significant work related to all the aspects of fire retardant use.

Bromine enrichment in marsh sediments as a marker of environmental changes driven by Grand Solar Minima and anthropogenic activity (Caminha, NW of Portugal)

“…This surplus of Br might be assumed as a consequence of the addition of brominated substances to water, to increase its effectiveness as forest fire extinction agent. This has been a common practice since the beginning of the 1930s (Giménez et al, 2004). For instance, more than 2000 tons of fire retardants been used, annually, to combat fires in the Mediterranean zones (Luna et al, 2007).…”

A review of challenges to determining and demonstrating efficiency of large fire management

“…The former includes, for instance, soil degradation from construction of bulldozer lines, which can be at least partially rehabilitated posthoc. Other impacts, however, may be less amenable to post-fire mitigation, such as aerial drops of chemical retardant falling into sensitive water bodies (Giménez et al 2004). The costs of suppression are essentially a function of the amount and type of suppression resources used along with their respective assignment durations.…”

Effects of fire and three fire-fighting chemicals on main soil properties, plant nutrient content and vegetation growth and cover after 10 years

“…The application of water added with fire-fighting chemicals (FFCs) helps to extinguish wildfires; therefore, this strategy has been widely used since the 1930s (Giménez et al, 2004). Research on FFCs has been mainly focused on their effectiveness as fire extinguishers (see Giménez et al (2004)).…”