Slurry

What Is It?

The Basics on the Red Fire Retardant, “Slurry”

Main ingredients: 85% water, 10% fertilizer (ammonia phosphate and sulfate ions), and 5% minor ingredients (iron oxide for color, clay or bentonite).
How it works: Works by coating fuels with moisture
How it is applied: Aerial application, dropped by aircraft.
Good News: It is non-toxic to humans.
Bad News: It may stain so should be washed off structures to prevent darkening of color. May be harmful to pets if swallowed (fertilizer poisoning).
Why is it red? Visibility! Easy to see from the air and ground.

The Basics on Fire Barricade, “Green Slime”

Main ingredients: Liquid concentrate of super absorbent polymers. Designed to be used in a diluted form. Mixing with water creates tiny “bubblets” of water surrounded by a polymer shell.
How it works: Sticks to both vertical and horizontal surfaces for long periods of time, “glues water to the sides of houses”.
How it is applied: Ground application. Can be applied with a standard foam educator, garden hose with specially purchased attachment, or purchased Atak Pak or Quik Atak systems.
Good News: It is non-toxic. It is biodegradable in the sun. It can be removed from structures with a high pressure nozzle, or pressure washer if dried.
Bad News: Can irritate eyes or skin. Can be slippery when applied to a hard surface like concrete.