CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aircrews from the Wyoming and North Carolina Air National Guard, flying C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, have been called upon to assist with fighting wild fires in California.
The Forest Service requested the MAFFS-equipped C-130s this week, one from the 153rd Airlift Wing in Wyoming and the other from the 145th Airlift Wing in North Carolina. The aircrews are slated to operate out of McClellan Airtanker Base, California, and will start flying fire suppression missions to help contain wildfires throughout the region no later than this weekend.
This is the first MAFFS activation this year for both units. As part of previous suppression efforts in the region, the 302nd Airlift Wing, based in Colorado, was activated almost two weeks ago. Military C-130s equipped with MAFFS provide surge capability to the Forest Service.
“Our MAFFS personnel will provide additional and much needed fire suppression efforts in California on top of the assets that have already been activated,” said Air Force Col. Scott Sanders, MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group commander. “We are able to provide surge capabilities that not only help the almost-depleted civilian airtankers, but hopefully provide other crews some reprieve.”
The MAFFS program is part of an integral partnership among the Department of Defense, National Interagency Fire Center, and other civilian and military responders.”
The MAFFS mission is a joint Department of Defense and U.S. Forest Service program designed to provide additional aerial firefighting resources when commercial and private air tankers are no longer able to meet the needs of the forest service.
“The MAFFS program is part of an integral partnership among the Department of Defense, National Interagency Fire Center, and other civilian and military responders,” said Sanders.
The actual MAFFS system is a self-contained aerial firefighting system owned by the U.S. Forest Service which is placed into the back of a C-130, that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.
The MAFFS crews join other Air and Army Guard assets that have been working with local officials to contain the wildfires.