CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Three Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and associated personnel were activated by U.S. Northern Command to help fight Los Angeles area wildfires.
The three C-130 aircraft were activated Jan. 9 and traveled to Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in California to assist the state’s firefighting apparatus. They are accompanied by a fourth C-130 support aircraft from a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit based in Colorado Springs and two C-130s from the Nevada Air National Guard. The California Air National Guard also has two C-130s assigned to the firefighting mission.
The participation of the California, Wyoming and Nevada Air National Guard and Colorado Reserve unit is spearheaded by the U.S. Northern Command, working with the U.S. Forest Service.
“It has been difficult to watch the absolute devastation of the wildfires in California,” said Col. Brian Diehl, commander of the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing. “We’re honored to be able to participate in our nation’s efforts to combat these fires and return normalcy to the people and communities of Southern California, and as soon as possible.”
The addition of the Wyoming and Nevada Air Guard personnel brought the total number of Guard members on the mission to more than 1,850 as of Monday morning.
“The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, is ready to assist in protecting the people, homes, and businesses in Southern California.,” said Col. Catherine Grush, commander of the 152nd Airlift Wing. “Californians are not only our neighbors but part of our family of Guardsmen and women, and we are honored to help assist with this effort.”
The MAFFS-equipped aircraft are coming from the 153rd Airlift Wing and 187th Airlift Squadron in Wyoming, 146th Airlift Wing in California, 152nd Airlift Wing and 192nd Airlift Squadron in Nevada, and the 302nd Airlift Wing and 731st Airlift Squadron in Colorado.
MAFFS began in 1971 as a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense to produce the equipment, training and procedures to integrate military air tankers into a national firefighting response.
MAFFS are the U.S. Forest Service’s portable fire-retardant delivery systems and can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications. They can discharge up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than 5 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide.
Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber contributed to this story.