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| PFAs were in our old turnouts. We were recently issued new turnouts. They are heavier and stiffer and hotter. I suspect in ten years or so they will be found to have something bad in them too.
As for the phos-chek, it has changed several times. It always contains some sort of phosphorus so if it gets in the water it causes an algae bloom and kills aquatic life.
Not only is phos-chek not supposed to be dropped near water, neither is water. Technically speaking, taking water out of one body of water and dropping it on another is illegal and may result in penalties, at least in CA. There have been incidents where firefighters needed water or retardant dropped near them for safety but it was denied because of proximity to water.
Because of this restriction, every waterway is an avenue for the fire to spread. We may not cut dozer lines within 150 feet on either side of a waterway and water and phos-chek may not be dropped in that zone either. Usually, hand lines can be cut.
I do know if it gets on a vehicle and it isn’t washed off fairly soon, it will etch the paint. I also know that vendors operating water tenders don’t like it in their tanks and pumps as it is corrosive and greatly reduces the life of the equipment. The stuff is slick as snot too.
While I’m on it, the aircraft dipping from the ocean make a choice to do that. Such an operation shortens the life of the equipment used. Perhaps the Canadian contractor has a provision in their contract for that and get paid if they dip salt water.
Is phos-chek harmful to nature or us? Relative to what? The smoke? The ash? Depending what is burning, the smoke can be quite toxic. It’s an issue of trade offs. Using the chemical to save structures that if they burned would spew far more toxins, then do it, drop the stuff. If it would save lives, definitely do it.
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Question about fire suppression in CA
