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News | June 30, 2011

Airmen continue aerial firefight in Southwest

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - Four Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command, are continuing to support firefighting efforts in New Mexico.

On Tuesday two C-130s and about 25 Air Force Reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo., arrived here to replace the outgoing two C-130s from the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard. The Air Force Reserve crews and planes join two C-130s from the North Carolina Air National Guard that are currently deployed here, to assist the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) control fires in New Mexico.

As of the end of MAFFS operations Wednesday, June 29, DoD aircraft have completed the following totals in support of the southwest.

-- 134 air drops

-- App. 308,989 gallons of retardant

For more information, contact the 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs at (719) 556-4117.