Perimeter Solutions, a global manufacturer of fire retardants, has donated a 260-gallon tote of PHOS-CHEK LCE20-Fx fire retardant to the Logan Lake Fire Department in British Columbia, Canada.
Logan Lake, located in the Highland Valley and surrounded by forests prone to frequent lightning storms, is at high risk of wildfires.
The fire retardant can be used both proactively and during active wildfires to protect property.
Logan Lake became the first FireSmart™ Community in Canada in 2013, a designation indicating that the community has taken essential steps to reduce its vulnerability to wildfires.
The FireSmart program is similar to the FireWise USA® program and encourages residents to clear debris from around their homes and use fire-resistant materials to safeguard properties.
In 2021, the Tremont Creek Fire threatened Logan Lake, leading to the evacuation of its residents.
The fire ultimately burned 63,548 hectares of land.
However, Logan Lake remained largely unscathed due to the community’s adherence to FireSmart principles.
This commitment has proven effective in protecting the area from wildfire damage.
When applied to vegetation and other surfaces, PHOS-CHEK LCE20-Fx forms a chemical fire break.
As a fire approaches, the water in the retardant evaporates, and the chemical component reacts with cellulose in plant material to prevent it from igniting.
This makes it a valuable addition to Logan Lake’s fire prevention efforts.
Representatives from the Logan Lake Fire Department attended a session in Kamloops hosted by Perimeter Solutions on the use of ground-applied fire retardant.
After hearing from Peter de Bruijn, Wildland Fire Prevention & Protection Specialist at Perimeter Solutions, Fire Chief Doug Wilson expressed interest in using PHOS-CHEK for the upcoming wildfire season.
“After hearing what PHOS-CHEK fire-retardant could do, Fire Chief Doug Wilson said he would like to use it for the upcoming wildfire season, and we are proud to make this donation to help in their ongoing fire protection efforts,” de Bruijn stated.
The donation of PHOS-CHEK LCE20-Fx was made earlier this month.
The Logan Lake Fire Department will familiarize themselves with the product to incorporate it into their firefighting strategy for the coming months.
This proactive approach aims to strengthen the community’s defenses against potential wildfires.
