Mitigating the Effects of Fire Suppressants on Cultural Resources

of chemical fire retardants and suppressants have come into use over the course of the last decade. Given current climatic trends and predictions of continuing climatic instability, it is safe to predict an increase in wildfire activity across the American West that will increase the need for chemicals employed to suppress these wildfires. A. Project Goals ¿ The goals of this research are: 1. to study the effects of fire suppressants on cultural resources, and 2. identify methods to remove fire suppressants from cultural resources. B. Project Objectives ¿ The project will 1. identify benefits and hazards of specific fire suppressants on cultural resources; 2. create recommendations for removal of fire suppressants from cultural resources; 3. publish a publically accessible science-based best practice protocol for uses of fire suppressants on/near significant cultural resources; and 4. disseminate the results of the research through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, and educational webinars.