PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
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, 2014, DoD aircraft have conducted 67 air drops and discharged
more than 119,600 gallons of retardant.
Two aircraft dropped approximately 5,900 gallons of retardant on the Midnite
Mica Fire in Idaho in the last 24 hours.
The supporting unit flying the MAFFS mission is the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming
Air National Guard located in Cheyenne, Wyo.
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.
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.