Are Chemicals the Best Way to Fight Forest Fires?
2022-07-11
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1U.S. officials are testing a new chemical mixture that is able to slow down the progress of wildfires.
2But critics say the Forest Service should be spending less on these mixtures known as fire retardants and more on firefighters.
3Much of the American West is facing a drought - a long amount of time with very little rain.
4The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, reports that so far this year there have been more than 31,000 wildfires.
5Those fires have burned about 13,000 square kilometers.
6That number is well above the 10-year average for the same period of about 24,000 wildfires and 5,000 square kilometers burned.
7Wildfire seasons have become longer as the West has become warmer and drier in the past 30 years.
8In 2020, The Forest Service used more than 190 million liters of retardant for the first time.
9It used over 190 million liters again last year to fight some of the largest and longest wildfires ever recorded in California and other states.
10The fire retardant cost those two years reached nearly $200 million.
11In comparison, over the previous 10 years, the agency used 115 million liters each year.
12The U.S. Forest Service said tests started last summer are continuing this summer with a magnesium-chloride-based retardant from the company Fortress.
13Fortress says its retardants are effective and better for the environment than other products.
14Another company, Perimeter Solutions, says its ammonium-phosphate-based retardants are better.
15The main ingredient in Fortress products, magnesium chloride, is taken from the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
16This method and process is more environmentally friendly than mining and processing phosphate, the company says.
17The Forest Service last summer tested the company's FR-100, and this summer said it will test a version called FR-200.
18Perimeter Solutions, which has buildings and equipment throughout the American West, has had a number of name and ownership changes over the years.
19Still, it has been the market leader for more than 20 years.
20The company's Phos-Chek LC-95A is the world's most used fire retardant.
21The company is moving to a new retardant called Phos-Chek LCE20-Fx.
22The company said it is made out of food-grade substances, making it a cleaner product.
23But two nonprofit groups say both kinds of retardant harm the environment.
24The groups suggest that the U.S. Forest Service should be spending less on fire retardant and more on firefighters.
25Andy Stahl leads Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, and Timothy Ingalsbee leads Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
26Both said that the ammonium-phosphates-based retardant is a fertilizer that can help invasive plants.
27They believe it might be responsible for some algae blooms in lakes.
28Stahl and Ingalsbee said the magnesium-chloride-based retardant is a salt that will limit plant growth where it falls, possibly harming threatened species.
29Both are concerned that either one of the chemicals will be dropped directly on waterways.
30They are worried about the possible harm the retardants could cause to aquatic species.
31I'm John Russell.
1U.S. officials are testing a new chemical mixture that is able to slow down the progress of wildfires. 2But critics say the Forest Service should be spending less on these mixtures known as fire retardants and more on firefighters. 3The effects of drought 4Much of the American West is facing a drought - a long amount of time with very little rain. 5The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, reports that so far this year there have been more than 31,000 wildfires. Those fires have burned about 13,000 square kilometers. 6That number is well above the 10-year average for the same period of about 24,000 wildfires and 5,000 square kilometers burned. 7Wildfire seasons have become longer as the West has become warmer and drier in the past 30 years. 8In 2020, The Forest Service used more than 190 million liters of retardant for the first time. It used over 190 million liters again last year to fight some of the largest and longest wildfires ever recorded in California and other states. The fire retardant cost those two years reached nearly $200 million. 9In comparison, over the previous 10 years, the agency used 115 million liters each year. 10The U.S. Forest Service said tests started last summer are continuing this summer with a magnesium-chloride-based retardant from the company Fortress. 11Fortress says its retardants are effective and better for the environment than other products. Another company, Perimeter Solutions, says its ammonium-phosphate-based retardants are better. 12The main ingredient in Fortress products, magnesium chloride, is taken from the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This method and process is more environmentally friendly than mining and processing phosphate, the company says. The Forest Service last summer tested the company's FR-100, and this summer said it will test a version called FR-200. 13Perimeter Solutions, which has buildings and equipment throughout the American West, has had a number of name and ownership changes over the years. Still, it has been the market leader for more than 20 years. The company's Phos-Chek LC-95A is the world's most used fire retardant. The company is moving to a new retardant called Phos-Chek LCE20-Fx. The company said it is made out of food-grade substances, making it a cleaner product. 14Criticism from environmentalists 15But two nonprofit groups say both kinds of retardant harm the environment. The groups suggest that the U.S. Forest Service should be spending less on fire retardant and more on firefighters. 16Andy Stahl leads Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, and Timothy Ingalsbee leads Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology. Both said that the ammonium-phosphates-based retardant is a fertilizer that can help invasive plants. They believe it might be responsible for some algae blooms in lakes. 17Stahl and Ingalsbee said the magnesium-chloride-based retardant is a salt that will limit plant growth where it falls, possibly harming threatened species. 18Both are concerned that either one of the chemicals will be dropped directly on waterways. They are worried about the possible harm the retardants could cause to aquatic species. 19I'm John Russell. 20Keith Ridler reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 21____________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23wildfire - n. a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly 24algae bloom - n. a fast and large increase in algae - simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water 25aquatic - adj. living or found in or near water 26species - n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus 27____________________________________________________________________ 28We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 29Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.