Fire retardant composition has a mold inhibitor. The composition can embrace a mixture of a substantially neutral ammonium phosphate salt in combination with an active hydrogen-containing nitrogenous organic compound spumific, e.g., urea, and with a hydroxyl-containing carbonific, e.g., a polyol, and further with the mold inhibitor. Such a composition can be made by contacting a phosphoric acid with ammonia to form the ammonium phosphate, contacting the ammonium phosphate with the spumific, the carbonific, and the mold inhibitor, under conditions sufficient to form the composition; and can be used by contacting it with a flammable substrate under conditions sufficient to be flame retardant or mold inhibitory, or both. Another aspect is an article of manufacture comprising, in combination, the fire retardant composition having the mold inhibitor, and the flammable substrate or a residue of the same.