Air Force aerial firefighting continues against Rocky Mountain fires

by Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

6/25/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force aerial firefighting aircraft continued dropping thousands of gallons of fire retardant June 24 in an effort to contain growing Rocky Mountain wildland fires.

Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System performed two drops on Colorado's West Fork Complex. They delivered 6,000 gallons of retardant on the fire.

The MAFFS aircraft also supported firefighters on the ground with 3,000 gallons of fire retardant on a small fire in Jefferson County, Colo., near Waterton Canyon.

As of 9 a.m. June 25, the West Fork Complex, consisting of three fires burning close to one another, totaled 75,150 acres with zero percent containment, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The East Peak fire, located about 120 miles east of the West Fork Complex and burning near Walsenburg, Colo., totaled 13,491 acres and is the second-largest burning in Colorado. It was last reported at 50 percent containment.

Red flag warnings were still in effect for much of the Rocky Mountain region, meaning low humidity, high winds and increased temperatures were expected.

Since MAFFS aircraft first provided support to the Black Forest fire June 12, more than 117,000 gallons of fire retardant have been dropped on Colorado wildfires.

Aircraft and Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB and the 146th AW from the California ANG are providing MAFFS assistance to the U.S. Forest Service.

The 145th AW from the North Carolina ANG is providing the MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group command element directly coordinating the use of MAFFS with the U.S. Forest Service at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

The MAFFS units are owned by the U.S. Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprise the NIFC.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds over 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 Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the NIFC and approved by the secretary of defense. These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural resources. This capability can include but is not limited to MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting the firefighting efforts.