A flame retardant thermal insulation material comprising a dry, shredded cellulosic material, such as newsprint, which is coated with a dry phosphorous-containing, flame retardant composition. The composition is one which is capable of decomposing near the ignition temperature of the shredded paper, which is between 120 degrees and Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius and preferably includes a plurality of compounds which decompose at different temperatures spaced within this range to provide the stagewise release of combustion inhibiting agents. The composition can be a single compound such as calcium phosphate but preferably is a combination of similar compounds such as (NH.sub.4).sub.2 HPO.sub.4, CaH.sub.4 (PO.sub.4).sub.2, CaHPO.sub.4 and triple super phosphate. Further, the phosphorous composition is preferably combined with urea. Elemental sulfur powder may be included with any of the previous compositions as a smoke retardant. The paper and flame retardant composition are maintained in the dry solid state during processing, application and use. The insulation is manufactured by shredding the paper and thoroughly mixing it with the finely ground, powdered flame retardant composition to intimately coat the paper with the flame retardant powder. The shredded, coated paper may be bagged for later use as poured or blown in insulation or it may be filled into elongated plastic envelopes to form insulative batting. Air may be evacuated from the bags or envelopes.

Fire-extinguishing compositions of low ozone depletion potential comprise dry particles of fire-extinguishing agents dispersed in a gel of liquified volatile perfluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons or hydrofluorocarbons. The dry particles are compatibilized with the carrier gel by the presence of a surfactant system composed of a non-ionic surfactant, a film forming fluorocarbon surfactant and a phosphorus containing antiflocculent.

The invention provides for a substantially non-aqueous, flame extinguishing composition for extinguishing a fire at the sight of a potential flame having a flurocarbon in admixture with a gelled powder additive having salts of weak acids which decompose at the temperature of the sight to reduce or eliminate HF released by the composition when used to extinguish flames.

Fires, particularly fires of flammable liquids, are extinguished by applying to the burning surface an extinguishing composition containing particles of a thermoplastic polymer, suitably a rubber. The polymer particles are arranged in association with a sufficient quantity of a chemical extinguishing agent to protect the polymer particles during transit through flame to the burning surface. Upon striking the surface of a flammable liquid the polymer dissolves therein causing the liquid to gel and concentrating fire extinguishing agents on the liquid surface thus securing the liquid against reignition.