Professional paper

Retardants against fire among plants

Damir Knežević ; Hrvatska vatrogasna zajednica, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Each year in the fire season, fires involving vegetation in the coastal area represent a new challenge for firefighters. Various techniques and methods, including extinguishing fires by land and air, are used to put out these fires. The goal is to find an optimal combination of techniques and assets to minimize the resources utilized and the resulting damage if these fires cannot be prevented. The extinguishing agents end up in the ground and in the water, so it is always necessary to protect the environment by choosing methods that are less detrimental to the environment. Water, firefighting foams, and retardants are available to firefighters. This paper discusses retardants, describing their actions and applications, with the aim of better and more effective use. The use of retardants in Croatia is less than it should be, especially in recent years. Retardants are an effective means to hinder and prevent vegetation burning and serve as a barrier to fire spreading. With their use, a fire can be much easier to localize, which can be crucial for firefighters in key moments when fighting a blaze.

Keywords

retardants; fire; vegetation; coastal area

Hrčak ID:

193381

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/193381

Publication date:

22.12.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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