with reference to fig1 therein is illustrated an apparatus for practicing the present method for forming a nonwoven fabric the fibrous components are preferably carded and cross lapped to form first precursor web designated p and a second precursor web designated p u2032 which are hydraulically united to form a composite nonwoven flame retardant fabric in one embodiment a first precursor web is formed comprising staple length lyocell fibers and modacrylic fibers wherein the modacrylic fibers have an independent level of flame resistance also a second precursor web is formed comprising staple length fibers of lyocell fibers modacrylic fibers and para amid fibers wherein the modacrylic fibers as well as the para amid fibers have an independent level of flame resistance it is also in the purview of the present invention that other flame retardant fibers be incorporated in either one or both of the precursor webs these fibers include but are not limited to phenolic fibers such as kynol u2122 fiber from american kynol inc pre oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers such as panox u00ae fiber a registered trademark to r k textiles composite fibers limited further fig1 illustrates a hydroentangling apparatus whereby the apparatus includes a foraminous forming surface in the form of belt 12 upon which the precursor webs p and p u2032 are positioned for entangling or pre entangling by manifold 14 the entangling apparatus of fig1 may optionally include an imaging and patterning drum 18 comprising a three dimensional image transfer device for effecting imaging and patterning of the lightly entangled precursor.