San Diego Doubles Down on CitroTech Fire Retardant After Pilot Cuts Encampment Fires by 39%
Event summary
- $1.5M state grant expands San Diego’s use of CitroTech’s fire inhibitor after pilot reduced encampment fires by 39% with zero reignitions.
- Initial $367K pilot treated 467 acres in high-risk areas, including 36 former encampment sites.
- New funding will double deployment to additional communities and evacuation corridors.
- CitroTech’s EPA-recognized product avoids harmful chemicals, streamlining permitting for rapid response.
The big picture
This expansion reflects a broader shift toward proactive wildfire management, where environmentally responsible chemical solutions complement traditional fuel reduction methods. With encampment-related fires rising in urban-wildland zones, CitroTech’s EPA-compliant approach could become a model for other Western cities seeking cost-effective prevention tools. The $1.5M grant underscores the growing public-sector demand for scalable fire mitigation technologies that balance ecological impact with community safety.
What we're watching
- Scalability Challenge
- Whether CitroTech can replicate this success in other high-risk urban-wildland interfaces.
- Regulatory Advantage
- How EPA recognition will influence adoption by other municipalities facing similar fire risks.
- Revenue Diversification
- The pace at which CitroTech can secure additional state or federal contracts beyond California.
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