Aircraft battling fires raging through the Los Angeles area are dropping more than water: Hundreds of thousands of gallons of hot-pink fire suppressant ahead of the flames in a desperate effort to stop them before they destroy more neighborhoods.

Perimeter Solutions, the company that makes the substance, explains its hot pink hue. As crews battle fires in Los Angeles, the hot pink fire retardant they’ve dropped to stall the flames’ advance has become one of the striking visuals to come out of the disaster.

Aircraft battling fires raging through the Los Angeles area are dropping hundreds of thousands of gallons of hot-pink fire suppressant in a desperate effort to stop the flames.

Streets in Southern California were painted red this week as planes continue to fly overhead dropping red clouds over burned areas. But why is it red?

Parts of Southern California are covered with pink fire retardant as firefighters try to control deadly wildfires raging in Los Angeles. But what is Phos-Chek fire retardant and is it safe?

It’s widely used because it can slow flames in ways that water can’t. But it also contains heavy metals and other harmful compounds.