News>Air Force Reserve C-130s support fight against Mexican wildland fires
Photos
A C-130 Hercules, equipped with the U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, lands April 16, 2011, at Laughline Air Force Base, Texas. Two C-130s conducted an aerial fire fighting mission over Coahuila, Mexico. The C-130s from the 302nd AW at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., deployed here at the direction of U.S. Northern Command to support the Mexican government's ongoing efforts against the Coahuila wildfires. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Blake Mize)
4/18/2011 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Two Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted three aerial firefighting missions from here April 16 in support of the ongoing efforts to contain the wildland fires the Mexican state of Coahuila.
The aircrew dropped about 9,000 gallons of fire suppressant on the effected area, approximately 50 miles south of the Texas/Mexico border.
The aircraft are equipped with the U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, a self-contained aerial firefighting system designed for installation on the C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to the aircraft.
Each MAFFS aircraft can drop up to 3,000 gallons of suppressant or fire retardant on each mission.
At the request of the Mexican government and U.S. Department of State, U.S. Northern Command deployed the two C-130 aircraft to assist Mexico's fire fighting efforts against the wildfires that have burned more than 245,000 acres in Coahuila.
The C-130s are from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., and are under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command during this contingency.
(Courtesy of U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs)
Comments
4/19/2011 6:10:44 PM ET New Forest fire fights technology. Take a lot of time to fight against fires on the ground from refilling fire retardant with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System to fly back to base and get back to airborne and fight against fires. Refueling aircrafts like AF KC-10 or KC-135 Stratotanker should add new flexible and provide new technology to refilling C-130 with fire retardant in the air instead of doing on the base. I think new fire retardant refilling in air between aircrafts would be much cost saving and effect in large forest fight and save property damages. Let see what Airmen and U.S. Forest Service think of this.
Willis, State of New York
4/19/2011 4:41:47 PM ET TO answer ZL - Aircraft are involved in the Texas fires. The Texas Forestry Service has the specifics on their website. In addition, hundreds of other assets are in use at home as well.
KECL, WF TX
4/19/2011 2:37:14 PM ET There are also efforts to help with the Texas wildfires.httpwww.dyess.af.milnewsstory.aspid123252203
Analyst, Barksdale
4/19/2011 9:07:56 AM ET Are they also helping with the out of control wildfires here in Texas? There used to be a saying - Charity begins at home...
ZL, Texas
4/18/2011 4:25:24 PM ET Here we go again helping someone else before we help our own. Texas has a bunch of wildfires and the government is doing nothing to help the state.
