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News | Sept. 15, 2011

USNORTHCOM continues support to wildfire suppression efforts

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Six Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting in the efforts to control fires in both Texas and the Northwest United States at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho.

As of early Thursday morning, DoD aircraft have completed the following:

State of Texas:
-- 22 air drops
-- App. 65,350 gallons of retardant

State of Oregon:
-- 2 air drops
-- App. 2,700 gallons of retardant

State of Idaho:
-- 2 air drops
-- App. 2,760 gallons of retardant

The units supporting the Texas efforts are the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard. Both are deployed to Austin/Bergstrom International Airport, Texas. The support to the Northwest United States is being provided by the 153rd Airlift Wing Wyoming Air National Guard flying out of Boise International Airport, Idaho.

Additionally at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, USNORTHCOM designated Randolph Air Force Base Auxiliary Field, Seguin, TX as an Incident Support Base to assist in their relief efforts.

For more information, contact USNORTHCOM Public Affairs at 719-554-6889 or 719-304-6097.