California Guardsmen Support Wildfire Suppression Efforts

California Air Guard Supports Wildfire Response

By Tech. Sgt. Albert Valladares, Department of War Support to National Interagency Fire Center

BOISE, Idaho - Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, equipped aircraft assigned to the California National Guard have been activated to support federal and state wildfire suppression efforts in California following a request for assistance from the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, or NMAC, through the Department of War.

The activation, overseen by the MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group, provides additional aerial firefighting capability to assist interagency partners in responding to increased wildfire activity across the region. MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft and aircrews augment the nation's civilian air tanker fleet when commercial resources are fully committed. This specialized capability is used strictly as a surge resource, ensuring military support is reserved only for periods of critical need.

As part of the activation, two MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft from the California National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing mobilized to Santa Maria, California, in support of firefighting operations for the first three days. One C-130 from the Colorado-based 302nd Airlift Wing arrived July 11 to take over the second tail that began July 12, operating out of San Bernardino, California.

MAFFS is a joint capability between the Department of War and the U.S. Forest Service that enables military C-130 aircraft to provide surge aerial firefighting support during periods of high wildfire activity. Each MAFFS unit can deliver up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant during a single mission while operating under the direction of civilian incident commanders.

Three of the four MAFFS units are operated by the Air National Guard. The aircraft are guided to fire-ravaged areas by U.S. Forest Service-piloted aircraft. Air National Guard MAFFS crews have fought wildfires in the United States, Europe, Africa and Indonesia.

Aircrews assigned to this mission will continue to operate in close coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Interagency Fire Center and other federal, state and local agencies throughout the duration of the activation.