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 132 air drops and discharged more
than 246,800 gallons of retardant.
Specific
information by fire within the last 24 hours is below:
Bald
Ridge, Utah – One (1) air drops – App. 2,750 gallons of retardant
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.