diff --git a/source/effects/particle_systems.c b/source/effects/particle_systems.c
index 778f8063..a2785e23 100644
--- a/source/effects/particle_systems.c
+++ b/source/effects/particle_systems.c
@@ -121,6 +121,17 @@ void particle_systems_initialize_for_new_map(
 	return;
 }
 
+void particle_system_orphan(
+	long system_index)
+{
+	struct particle_system_datum *system = particle_system_get(system_index);
+
+	SET_FLAG(system->flags, _particle_system_attached_bit, FALSE);
+	system->object_index = NONE;
+
+	return;
+}
+
 void particle_systems_dispose_from_old_map(
 	void)
 {
diff --git a/source/effects/particle_systems.h b/source/effects/particle_systems.h
index d20ffa55..03450ca1 100644
--- a/source/effects/particle_systems.h
+++ b/source/effects/particle_systems.h
@@ -13,10 +13,32 @@ header included in hcex build.
 
 /* ---------- constants */
 
+enum
+{
+	_particle_system_attached_bit,
+};
+
 /* ---------- macros */
 
+#define particle_system_get(system_index) ((struct particle_system_datum *)datum_get(particle_systems, (system_index)))
+
 /* ---------- structures */
 
+struct particle_system_datum
+{
+	struct datum_header header;
+	short pad;
+	unsigned long flags;
+	long definition_index;
+	long object_index;
+	short attachment_index;
+	short type_state_index;
+	byte opaque[0x144];
+};
+
+typedef char particle_system_datum_size_assert[
+	sizeof(struct particle_system_datum) == 0x158 ? 1 : -1];
+
 /* ---------- prototypes/PARTICLE_SYSTEMS.C */
 
 void particle_systems_initialize(
@@ -31,7 +53,8 @@ void particle_systems_disconnect_from_structure_bsp(
 	void);
 long particle_system_new_attached(long definition_index, long object_index, short attachment_index);
 
-void particle_system_orphan(long system_index);
+void particle_system_orphan(
+	long system_index);
 
 /* ---------- globals */