San Diego Fire Department Tests New Product for Fire Defense

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego firefighters are testing a new approach to fire defense by applying a clear firefighting residue directly to a greenbelt in hopes of protecting nearby homes from possible forest fires.

“This product actually prevents the spread of fire. You can put a flame or a torch on it, it can char, but it can’t sustain a flame,” said Daniel Hypes, deputy fire chief for the San Diego Fire Department.

Citrotech flame retardant has been approved by the FDA and is currently undergoing preliminary testing.

“We will monitor the situation. We’re going to spray the product quarterly along designated evacuation corridors and we’re going to do that for a year or two,” said SDFD Deputy Fire Chief Tony Tosca.

In Alvarado Estates, where worried homeowners recently narrowly avoided a potential fire, local firefighters are advising residents to take protective measures.

“We are very grateful that they came out to assess our properties and give each homeowner personalized recommendations on the most important steps they can take, especially as fire season approaches,” said Karen Austin, Alvarado Estates HOA board member.

Firefighters stress the importance of maintaining defensible space around homes, especially up to five feet from the house.

Eric Poliak, another HOA board member at Alvarado Estates, said, “How fire destroys neighborhoods is really no longer a mystery; it’s a science now and can be prevented with the right steps and building methods.”

Authorities are urging homeowners to ensure that the immediate area around their home is free of combustible materials and that appropriate fire resistance measures are in place.