Water and Fire retardants against Flames

The reports of fires in California are alarming. What can be done?

One man put oscillating garden hose sprinkers on his roof. Not spraying water but spraying fire retardant. He had bought fire retardant chemicals. 

What are fire retardant chemicals?

Planes are dropping them instead of water.

But, again, environmentalists are protesting that the anti-fire measures are a threat to wildlife.

However, in Australia, people sent to rescue wildlife from fires told heartbreaking stories of animals which could be heard screaming in terror and pain and were found badly burned.

Another man claimed to have saved his house with water hoses.  And water from his swimming pool. But you need pumps and generators (when local electricity is cut off, if it doesn't fail) to raise the water to roof level.

Others have used water from nearby streams. Or their own storage tanks.

The fire services should know where the swimming pools are.  

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14276225/afghanistan-veteran-reveals-purchase-saved-la-home-fires.html