McCLELLAN AIR TANKER STATION, SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Airmen with the 146th Airlift Wing began their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, recertification and training April 20, in preparation to support aerial wildfire suppression operations across California and the rest of the United States during the upcoming fire season.
The training ensures aircrews, maintenance personnel and support teams remain qualified to operate MAFFS, a roll-on/roll-off system that allows military C-130 aircraft to be rapidly converted into aerial firefighting platforms. The system can disperse 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in a single drop, helping slow the spread of wildfires, supporting ground crews constructing fire lines and ultimately aiding in bringing wildfires under control.
The 146th Airlift Wing is one of four Department of War units equipped with MAFFS alongside the 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada; the 153rd Airlift Wing out of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and the 302nd Airlift Wing out of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The MAFFS program provides a surge capability during peak wildfire season, augmenting state, federal and civilian firefighting efforts when additional aerial support is needed. Annual recertification training ensures seamless coordination between military and civilian partners and maintains the high standards required for aerial firefighting operations.
MAFFS was created by Congress in the early 1970s and is a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of War.
The MAFFS systems are the U.S. Forest Service’s portable fire-retardant delivery system. When requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of War, the Department of War can provide unique wildland firefighting assets to the requesting agencies.
As part of U.S. Northern Command’s assigned Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission, these diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to minimize human suffering, protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural and cultural resources. They can include, but are not limited to, MAFFS-equipped aircraft, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting the firefighting efforts.
“This training is about being ready before the call comes,” said Staff Sgt. Reuben Hernandez, a crew chief assigned to the 146th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “When fire season hits, there’s no time to figure things out. Everything we do out here makes sure the aircraft and the system are ready to go the moment we’re needed.”
Crew chiefs and other maintenance operations play a critical role in the MAFFS mission, ensuring aircraft are safe, fully mission-capable and configured to support firefighting operations. Their work directly enables aircrews to respond quickly and effectively during wildfire emergencies.
For many Airmen in the 146th Airlift Wing, the aerial firefighting mission carries personal significance because of the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station’s central location to many of the major fires that have ravaged California in recent years.
“Being from California, I’ve seen firsthand what these fires can do to communities,” Hernandez said. “Homes lost, families displaced, entire communities gone; it sticks with you. Knowing we’re out here training to help protect the communities we live in makes this mission mean a lot more to me and the other Airmen working here.”
The units supporting the MAFFS mission belong to the Air National Guard and to the Air Force Reserve. The Air National Guard’s mission as a whole is to provide mission-ready Airmen and equipment to safeguard the United States and its territories and to provide critical support to serve our local communities.
“It feels great to be in a unit that makes a difference,” Hernandez said. “Even though it's always a long day, we’re all on the same page. We’ve got to knock out this training so that way we can all be prepared for whatever comes next.”
The 146th Airlift Wing and its partner agencies, the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE, will be fully postured to support wildfire response efforts throughout the season when the training ends, reinforcing a shared commitment to safeguarding communities across California and to aid other states as well.