Firefighters are utilizing multiple tools to battle the three active wildfires in Polk County, including fire retardant, water, and foam. Each plays a critical role in containing and controlling the fires.

How These Tools Help in Wildfire Suppression

• Fire Retardant:  Fire retardant is used to slow the intensity and spread of wildfires, allowing firefighters on the ground to safely access the area and construct containment lines. Retardants, typically composed of ammonium phosphate or sulfate, coat vegetation to prevent ignition and reduce the intensity of fires. This gives firefighters valuable time to reduce fuel loads, construct fire lines, and enhance containment efforts.
• Water: Water is a primary suppression tool, applied through fire hoses, helicopters, and air tankers. It can directly extinguish flames, but in high-temperature fires, it may evaporate before reaching the burning material. To improve effectiveness, firefighters often mix water with wetting agents or Class A foam to help it soak into vegetation and increase moisture retention. Water is also used to wet down areas ahead of the fire to prevent embers from igniting new flames, especially around homes and structures.
• Foam: Firefighting foam, particularly Class A foam, is used to enhance water penetration into fuels like grass, brush, and trees. It reduces the surface tension of water, helping it absorb into combustible materials more effectively and slowing ignition. While F-500 Encapsulator Agent (F-500 EA) is sometimes mentioned in fire suppression, it is more commonly used for industrial and hazardous materials fires rather than large-scale wildfire operations.

Aerial Support and Flight Restrictions

To assist in containment, aircraft are being used to drop water and fire retardant over the active fires in Polk County. Due to this, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a No-Drone Zone around the affected areas. Unauthorized drones pose a significant safety risk, as they can interfere with firefighting aircraft operations and force pilots to ground their planes.