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 76 air drops and discharged
more than 137,000 gallons of retardant.
Specific information by fire within the last 24 hours is below:
Bald Sisters, Ore.-- Two (2) air drops – App. 5,700 gallons of retardant
East Mountain, Idaho – Seven (7) air drops – App. 11,600 gallons of retardnt
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 on Sept. 11, 2001, is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil
Authorities.