DoD Continues Aid to Combat Wildfires in Northwest

From a U.S. Northern Command News Release

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Aug. 12, 2014 – Two Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in the Northwest, Great Basin, and elsewhere in the West at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

Since July 20, DoD aircraft have conducted 124 air drops and discharged more than 229,500 gallons of fire retardant.

Over the last 24 hours, officials said, DoD aircraft conducted four airdrops and discharged about 8,500 gallons of retardant on the Old Blue fire in Idaho. Over the same period, two airdrops discharged about 2,500 gallons of retardant on the Moonie fire in Idaho

The supporting unit flying the MAFFS mission is the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, located in Cheyenne.

Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard C-130 aircraft assigned to units in California, Colorado, North Carolina and Wyoming are capable of dropping fire retardant using U.S. Forest Service MAFFS units. Aircrews, maintenance crews and support personnel undergo special NIFC training and certification to perform these missions each year.