Random Ramblings: Aerial Wildland Firefighting

I have blogged about aerial wildland firefighting since 2009. I am not a firefighter and am not a pilot, just an interested bystander who wants to learn more and share what I learn here. Join me here as I blog on the aircraft and the pilots who fight wildland fires from the air in support of crews on the ground. I also blog on concerns affecting fire crews on the ground as well as other aviation and meteorology issues. Learn what it takes to do jobs that are staffed by the best of the best.

Friday, May 10, 2024

About C-130 MAFFS for Aerial Firefighting

C-130 military aircraft that can be configured as firefighting aircraft with special portable retardant delivery systems, known as Modular Aerial Firefighting System (MAFFS), are a great resource. While these C-130 MAFFS do a lot of work out west when activated, they are a national resource available when there are not enough air tankers and helicopters to work in an area with a lot of wildfires. Currently there are 8 C-130 MAFFS available from four military units:

152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, Reno

153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne

302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force base, Colorado

146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme

For more information about MAFFS as well as a couple of videos see this webpage on MAFFS from the US Forest Fire Service

Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing a video about MAFFS from KCAL News in southern California. The video is under three minutes and you will learn more about C-130 MAFFS and how they are used.