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Military C-130 MAFFS Remain Over Western Wildfires

Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
/
The National Guard

Air Force C-130’s equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System will continue to fight western wildfires. To date, they have dropped over 1.2 million gallons of fire retardant according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Unlike 2012, the MAFFS were activated for the 2013 fire season by special request from Rep. Doug Lamborn to fight the Black Forest Fire. Normally, MAFFS are only deployed when the entire civilian air fleet is in service.

Five MAFFS aircraft are currently in service across the country including two from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Three MAFSS have been relocated from Idaho to California because of the Rim Fire burning in and near Yosemite. Massive fires burning across the west have prompted the forest service to extend the MAFFS mission through September 30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_eGiGG1B-Q

Since June 11 there have been 494 drops performed by MAFFS.

According to the U.S. Air Force, crews can drop 3,000 gallons of water or retardant along the edge of a fire in less than five seconds. The drop can cover an area a quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide.

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