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.

The powdered substance sprayed over the California wildfires is called Phos-Chek. It contains ammonium phosphate — an ingredient commonly found in fertilizer.

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.

In the wake of the California wildfire news coverage, you’re likely to have seen cars, trucks, homes and much more covered in a hot pink, powdery mixture. What exactly is it – and why are aerial firefighters spreading across many neighborhoods?

Fire officials are using aircrafts to drop pink flame retardants over portions of L.A. to stave off the spreading wildfires in the region.