Fire Retardant Gel & Spray
Coat siding, decks and fences with a protective barrier before you evacuate.
Fire-blocking gels and long-term retardant sprays create a heat-absorbing barrier on wood, vinyl and composite surfaces. Gels (Barricade, Thermo-Gel, FireIce) are applied with a hose-end sprayer minutes before evacuation and last several hours. Long-term retardants (Phos-Chek Home Defense) are applied days or weeks ahead and stay effective until washed off by rain.
Our picks
3 guides · price bands $ to $$$$
IllustrationPhos-Chek Wildfire Home Defense
The consumer version of the red retardant dropped from air tankers. Applied days or weeks ahead to fences, decks, mulch and siding; stays effective until rinsed by heavy rain. Dries clear.
IllustrationBarricade Fire Blocking Gel
A superabsorbent polymer gel that clings to vertical surfaces and holds a water barrier for hours. Used by fire departments; the home kit includes a hose-end applicator. Apply when evacuation is ordered.
IllustrationThermo-Gel 200L
Another fire-department-grade gel concentrate. Slightly cheaper per litre than Barricade but the applicator is sold separately. Good choice if you already own a foam eductor.
Before you buy
- Gels are a last-minute product: apply when evacuation is ordered, not the week before. They dry out in 6–24 hours depending on heat and wind.
- Long-term retardants are seasonal: apply to fences, decks and mulch beds in early fire season and refresh after heavy rain.
- A 5-gallon (19 L) gel concentrate typically covers a 2,000 sq ft (185 m²) home exterior. Buy two if you have outbuildings.
- Check the applicator: hose-end sprayers need ~40 psi. If your pressure drops in an emergency, a backpack sprayer is more reliable.
- Gel is not a substitute for sprinklers — it protects surfaces from radiant heat and embers, but it does not stop a crown fire.