In the News

A PFAS-free fire suppressant made with Maine wood could fight wildfires

A University of Maine researcher had a lightbulb moment while watching news about wildfires raging through California in 2019. James Anderson saw clips of planes dumping out water to quench the flames, but wind kept blowing it away. At the time, Anderson was exploring the capabilities of sawdust that, when ground down to a microscopic level, turns into a watery goo. He realized the material - known as cellulose nanofiber or biogel - had all the right qualities to be an effective fire extinguisher.

Six years later, Anderson and other researchers at the center feel a renewed sense of urgency to get the biogel into the hands of firefighters. Ongoing wildfires continue to destroy southern California and firefighters, including 20 from Maine, are struggling to put out flames amid powerful winds and abnormally dry conditions.

The Process Development Center received $150,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Products Laboratory in December to fund more research. But that won't cover the testing for certifications necessary for it to be used in commercially sold fire extinguishers. That testing can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000.

Researchers Study Fire Behavior to Better Understand Mass Timber Buildings

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Fire Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, tested mass timber fire behavior in October.

The test was the third in the series of four experimental burns that researchers from the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory, Oregon State University, US Environmental Protection Agency, and ARUP, an engineering consulting firm, designed to study fire behavior in mass timber structures. The results from their project could inform building codes and fire models for multistory buildings made from wood and add to the understanding of smoke, emissions, and char formation.

The Forest Products Lab

From mass timber buildings to bioenergy from wood waste, explore the innovative ways forest products are being used to combat climate change and support healthy forests. Join the adventure team as they meet experts at the forefront of these advancements in sustainable forestry and forest product innovation.