A fire-retardant thermoplastic compound that can be used as compound or further enhanced through chemical cross linkage. The compounding thereof and the composition are disclosed. The compound is manufactured from a composition of a copolymer or terpolymer with a carboxylic acid comonomer and optionally a low modulus polymer and a synthetic hydrocarbon elastomer with or without a graft of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride. A fire retardant additive comprising a group I, group II or group III metal oxide hydrate with the proviso that at least 1% by weight of the composition is in the form of an organopolysiloxane. The compound may be used for sheet or wire extrusion and for injection or compression molding.