Compass Minerals: USFS Ends Use of Fire Retardants Over Corrosion Concerns

By Colin Kellaher

Compass Minerals International on Monday said the U.S. Forest Service won't use the company's aerial fire retardants for the 2024 fire season over concerns that the magnesium chloride-based products are damaging the agency's aircraft.

Compass said the USFS found significant signs of corrosion in areas of its firefighting airtankers where a buildup of the retardant had occurred.

Compass said the USFS won't discuss a new contract until the National Transportation Safety Board and National Institute of Standards and Technology conduct a coordinated, independent assessment of the findings, and the Overland Park, Kan., company said it is assuming that the magnesium chloride-based formulation "will not be utilized for the foreseeable future in the fight against wildfires."

Compass said it is working to achieve full USFS qualification of non-magnesium chloride-based aerial fire-retardant products.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2024 07:43 ET (11:43 GMT)

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