The short answer to this question is yes. Of course, you will have to be sure that you’re using an effective and proven fire retardant such as PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE spray. Below you’ll learn exactly how fire retardants work, and why PHOS-CHEK is particularly effective in helping protect your home from damage caused by wildfires.
Table of Contents
What is Fire Retardant?
A fire retardant is a substance that is commonly used either to slow down the progress of a wildfire, to reduce its intensity, or to stop it altogether. This is usually accomplished by triggering a chemical reaction that reduces the flammability of objects which can be burned. In some cases, the fuel for a wildfire can be cooled down either through some kind of physical action or by an endothermic chemical reaction.
PHOS-CHEK retardants release water vapor and coat vegetation with carbon during the burning process; this will prevent the vegetation from igniting and result in a fire’s progress slowing down and ultimately extinguishment.
How Do Fire Retardant Sprays Work?
For any fire to ignite and progress, there are three things that are required, those being heat, oxygen, and a fuel source. The initial heat might come from a lightning bolt or a careless camper who fails to extinguish a cigarette butt or campfire. Oxygen is everywhere in the air all around us, so that is one component of a fire which is readily available, and which can constantly contribute to a fire’s progress.
The fuel source for any wildfire will generally be dry grass or underbrush, and very often an entire forest that spans thousands of acres. When wildfires reach developed areas, homes and all the typical assets you might see around a home can also become fuel sources for the wildfire. All fire retardants will work in some way to control the combustion of fuel sources.
In the case of PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE fire retardant, the heat from a fire will trigger a chemical reaction on the surface of any fuel source which has been coated with this fire retardant. That in turn will release water vapor into the atmosphere and convert the fuel into almost pure carbon. This process has the effect of reducing the overall temperature because a great deal of heat is consumed during the reaction. Since pure carbon will not burn, that in effect will eliminate the object which has been coated as a potential fuel source.
It also induces a general cooling so that the available supply of flammable gas is significantly reduced. Solid-phase char formation fire retardants promote a buildup of the char layer which occurs when a fire begins to consume fuel sources. When char formation occurs the underlying material becomes protected against flames.
What’s the Most Effective Fire Retardant Spray?
We believe that the most effective fire retardant available on the market today is PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE, and this has been proven to be effective both commercially and residentially time and time again. Our fire retardant spray is still being used today to fight wildfires in the US and globally, and is the most effective product to help manage and control the spread of wildfires. PHOS-CHEK is the only long-term fire retardant product approved by the USDA Forest Service for use on wildland fires; it is safe for humans, pets, and vegetation as determined by the USDA guidelines.
How Can I Ensure I’ve Applied Enough Fire Retardant Spray & Will It Work?
You can be sure you’re using the right amount of fire retardant spray if you mix three- quarters of a gallon of PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE spray with 4-1/4 gallons of water. Then all you have to do is spray all the fuel sources around your home, including wood, leaves, brush, trees, and any other plants which might be consumed by wildfire.
If you apply a thorough coating of this fire retardant at the beginning of the wildfire season, it will work to protect your home should any flames come nearby. The general rate of application is 1 gallon per 100 square feet, a bit more for heavy shrubs and trees. If you have some kind of heavy rain or a storm, it may be necessary for you to re-apply a coating of PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE to make sure that your protection is in place again. Since heavy rain will tend to wash away much of your protective coating, a re-application will become necessary to provide full protection.
