A variety of interested groups have joined together in mitigation efforts for the Walker Ranch fire. Representatives from almost 20 agencies met to discuss erosion control and water quality monitor- ing of the damaged area. A new report published by the U.S. Geological Survey examines the effect of sunlight on slurry used in fire fighting entering waterways. Fire suppressant compounds like the red slurry that is dropped onto wildfires are essential in stopping some otherwise uncontrollable fires. However, such compounds do contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and amphibians.
Sunlight intensifies the toxicity of at least one chemical, sodium ferrocyanide, in slurry.
Even in slurry compounds without this chemical there are still toxic levels of ammonia. Natural processes during a wildfire also play a role in killing fish and amphibians. In the case of the Walker Ranch fire, cloudy skies reduced the amount of sunlight striking dropped slurry and low precipitation after the fire kept erosion minimal. The USGS is working with the industry to find safer compositions that still suppress fires. At the end of the summer, Clear Creek in Golden, Colo. was damaged twice in a matter of weeks as Coors Brewing Company accidentally discharged 2,500 barrels of Coors beer and wastewater into the creek killing over 10,000 fish.