Video shows National Guard plane drop fire retardant on California wildfire
The Pacific Palisades Fire, the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles, has scorched 36 square miles and transformed the community into ash.
As multiple wildfires ravage the Los Angeles area, leaving behind a trail of destruction, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures, officials and firefighters are working overtime to contain it.
Video footage of fire containment efforts shows a California Air National Guard plane attempting to suppress the fire by "dropping a line of fire retardant on the Palisades Fire in the mountains above the Pacific Palisades" Saturday.
The video the Super Hercules soar towards the smoke and drop fire retardant on the Palisades Fire.
See the view from inside the cockpit.
What is a fire retardant?
The vibrant red fire retardant is known as Phos-Check has been used by firefighters battling wildland blazes since the early 1960s, according to AccuWeather. It has, in recent years, become the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The components of long-term fire retardants are mainly salts – typically agricultural fertilizers – that "alter the way the fire burns, decreases the fire intensity, and slows the advance of the fire," according to the USDA.
When used, the fire retardant triggers a series of events once the flames approach it. As it heats, the components in the retardant prevent the cellulose in plant matter from fueling the fire, according to the retardant's manufacturer, Perimeter Solutions. It instead emits water vaper as it decomposes, which "cools the fire" and essentially starves it of fuel, leaving behind a black carbon coating "that both insulates and restricts air flow to any residual fuels," according to the manufacturer's report on its use.
Most destructive fire in LA history
The Pacific Palisades Fire, the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles, has only been 13% contained as of Monday morning. The fire, which first ignited last Tuesday, has scorched 36 square miles and transformed the community into ash. Cal Fire said 40,300 acres have burned in California since the multiple blazes ignited, and over 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed.
Strong winds on Monday, however, could threaten the incremental progress firefighters made over the weekend.
"Conditions are expected to worsen for these locations by Tuesday morning as wind gusts near 70 mph will be possible," National Weather Service Meteorologist Walter Otto said in a Monday weather update. Otto, citing the winds combined with low relative humidities and lack of recent rainfall, said a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning had been issued for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties from Monday night through Wednesday morning.
"These locations will be under a high risk for large fires with potential for very rapid spreading of any fires that may develop," Otto warned.
Of six fires that have been sparked since last Tuesday, two others besides Palisades are still active: The Eaton Fire near Pasadena, which is 27% contained, and the Hurst Fire near Sylmar, which is 89% contained.
Los Angeles area wildfire locations and evacuation zones
Contributing: Christopher Cann, Trevor Hughes, Susan Miller, John Bacon, Paste BN
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.