News>Colorado Reserve unit called in to fight wildland fires
Story at a Glance
Follow the Twitter feeds about the Colorado fires at #waldocanyonfire and #waldocanyon Follow the 302nd AW on Twitter at @302airliftwing
Photos
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Reservists assigned to the 302nd Airlift Wing load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System unit onto a C-130 Hercules here during the early morning hours June 24. The 302nd Airlift Wing has been tasked by the National Interagency Fire Center to support wildland aerial firefighting missions in the Rocky Mountain area. (U.S. Air Force photo//Ann Skarban)
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Reservists assigned to the 302nd Airlift Wing load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting System unit on C-130 Hercules June 24 during the early morning hours. Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire, a wildland fire that started the day before can be seen near the Front Range off to the distance. The 302nd Airlift Wing has been tasked by the National Interagency Fire Center to support wildland firefighting missions in the Rocky Mountain area. (U.S. Air Force photo//Ann Skarban)
6/25/2012 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing here received word June 24 that it was tasked to provide Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, support to the ongoing Colorado wildland fires.
The request for assistance from The National Interagency Fire Center to the Department of Defense requested four C-130 air tankers capable of transporting and employing MAFFS, along with appropriate command, control and support personnel to assist in fire fighting. The 302nd Airlift Wing and the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard are currently tasked to provide the requested MAFFS support in Colorado.
"Since they've started, we have been monitoring the fires and have had our aircrews, aircraft and the MAFFS systems in a state of readiness anticipating a possible tasking from the U.S. Forest Service," said Lt. Col. Luke Thompson, 302nd Airlift Wing Chief of Aerial Firefighting.
"As soon as we received the formal request this morning, the wing's aerial porters and C-130 loadmasters loaded the U.S. Forest Service MAFFS units. In addition, MAFFS-qualified aircrews are on standby. We are ready and will fly once we receive our launch order," said Thompson.
While the 302nd Airlift Wing MAFFS crews and aircraft have recently supported wildland fires in Texas and in southwestern U.S., fire support in the Rocky Mountain region will have special meaning.
"As the only Air Force Reserve wing in the United States trained and qualified to fly the MAFFS mission, it is especially meaningful for the men and women of this wing to use their specialized training to help right here at home," added Thompson.
Once the launch order is received, the aircraft will employ from Peterson Air Force Base and provide aerial firefighting missions supporting the U.S. Forest Service. MAFFS-equipped aircraft and crews are expected to fly missions out of Peterson Air Force Base as soon as tomorrow, weather conditions permitting and as directed by the U.S. Forest Service incident commander.
The MAFFS units are owned by the U.S. Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprise the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.
Comments
6/25/2012 6:35:20 PM ET Mike I had the same question as I saw a comment suggesting that Washington was causing delay. But I had a long talk with a congressional staffer this morning and he assured me that was not the case. He said the only requirements before a request for the tankers were that other resources had to be exhausted first and the fire had to reach a certain level of intensity. Approval of the request comes from the top commander at Peterson. From the article looks like the request was just made and approval was granted almost immediately. Glad that CO has this resource. It was a huge help to our area last year. Thanks to all of you at Peterson who do this great work
Ruth, TX
6/25/2012 12:34:08 PM ET Why did it take so long to request this from AFRC Were they waiting for the fires to get big enough or close enough to something important This should be an automatic start of fire season standing request for tanker support especially since the contract tanker fleet is inadequate.