PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is
mobilizing a Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) and Defense Coordinating
Element (DCE) to the RRCC Region X, in response to a request for assistance for
wildland firefighting support.
Additionally, two 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 with wildfire suppression efforts in the Northwest, Great Basin, and
elsewhere in the West at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center
(NIFC) in Boise, Idaho.
Since July 20, 2014, DoD aircraft have conducted 41 air
drops and discharged more than 78,900 gallons of retardant.
Specific information by fire within the last 24 hours is
below:
Mack, ID-- Eight (8) air drops – App. 20,300 gallons of
retardant
Kitten, OR-- Eight (8) air drops -- App. 17,300 gallons of
retardant
The supporting unit flying the MAFFS mission is the 153rd
Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard located in Cheyenne, WY.
USNORTHCOM provides DOD capabilities for disaster response
operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency
Management Agency / National Interagency Fire Center, state and local officials
and continues to closely monitor wildfires to anticipate requests for DOD
assistance.
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.
The DCO acts as liaison between the NIFC and USNORTHCOM,
relaying capabilities available to NIFC and coordinating movement of
active-duty personnel and equipment to assist should the need arise. The DCE acts as administrative support to the
DCO.
U.S. Northern Command, established in the wake of the
terrorist attacks of 9/11, is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense
Support of Civil Authorities. For more
information about U.S. Northern Command please visit www.northcom.mil.