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  • Crashed Fire Fighting C-130 is from Charlotte Air National Guard Unit

    The North Carolina Air National Guard - and indeed the National Guard across all of North Carolina and the country - is grieving today.The military C-130 equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, otherwise known as MAFFS, that crashed while battling a fire in Southwestern South Dakota at approximately 6:30 p.m. mountain time Sunday

  • Air Force suspends C-130 firefighting operations

    The military C-130 aircraft activated to assist with the Rocky Mountain region's firefighting efforts were stood down on July 2.The fleet spent the day to get the MAFFS crews together to "reflect, reset and review," said Col. Jerry Champlin, 153rd Air Expeditionary Group commander. "We all need to make sure our crews and planes will be ready to

  • MAFFS Equipped C-130 Crashes in South Dakota

    At approximately 6 P.M. MDT, a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipped C-130 aircraft supporting fire fighting missions crashed in the southwest corner of South Dakota. The aircraft was supporting the efforts against the White Draw Fire.The cause of the crash is not known and the incident is under investigation. There are no details on the
  • COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A U.S. Forest Service aircraft breaks away as a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 begins dropping retardant on a section of the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs, Colo., June 26. Four MAFFS units from the 302nd and 153rd Airlift Wings are flying in support of the U.S. Forest Service as they fight wildland fires in Colorado. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

    Four MAFFS-equipped C-130s change staging location Monday

    At the request of the U.S. Forest Service, four of the eight military C-130 aircraft, each equipped with that agency's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) will begin operating out of the Wyoming Air National Guard's base, in Cheyenne, Monday.Since June 25, MAFFS-equipped aircraft have been operating from Peterson Air Force Base, in
  • Wyoming Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s arrive in Colorado Springs, Colo. Airmen assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyo., arrived at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to provide support to ongoing Colorado firefighting efforts. The 153rd Airlift Wing, along with the 302nd Airlift Wing, have been tasked to provide the requested MAFFS support in the state. (U.S. Air Force photo/Nichole Grady)

    AF deploys remaining MAFFS to fight fires

    Beginning Saturday, June 30, eight military C-130 aircraft, each equipped with the U.S. Forest Service's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) will be operating out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to assist with firefighting efforts in the Rocky Mountain Region.Two MAFFS-equipped C-130s from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift
  • A Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing lays a line of fire retardant June 27 against the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, Colo. Four MAFFS-equipped aircraft, two from the 153rd AW and two from the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd AW, flew in support of the U.S. Forest Service to fight the Colorado wildfire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephany D. Richards)

    MAFFS crews train for mountain fire fighting scenarios

    When you add heat, high elevation and mountainous terrain, you have a combination that makes an already difficult mission that much tougher. The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System trained C-130 Hercules pilots of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron have been dealing with these conditions since they started flying June 25, 2012 here. They are
  • Master Sgt. Marshall Davis conducts flight preparations at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., on June 27, 2012. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System units from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing were activated June 24, 2012, to assist in fire-suppression efforts in the Rocky Mountain region. Davis is a MAFFS-qualified loadmaster assigned to the 187th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nichole Grady)

    MAFFS crews eager to fight fire another day

    A heavy smell of smoke and a thick haze greeted members of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron as they arrived on the flightline during the early morning June 27 here to prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s for another day of aerial fire-fighting. The day before saw significant MAFFS activity as the four C-130s, two
  • COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 drops retardant on a section of the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs, Colo. June 26. Four MAFFS aircraft from the 302nd and 153rd Airlift Wings are supporting civil authorities as they combat the fire, which has burned since June 23. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

    Fire's fury presents challenges to MAFFS operationally, personally

    The flightline at Peterson Air Force base roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado. The scene was reminiscent of a NASCAR pit with aircraft landing and refueling quickly before taking flight. Today began the first full day of MAFFS operations in
  • Airmen and MAFFS-equipped C-130s assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyo., arrive at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to provide support to ongoing Colorado firefighting efforts. The 153rd Airlift Wing, along with the 302nd Airlift Wing, have been tasked to provide the requested MAFFS support in the state. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nichole Grady)

    Wyoming Air National Guard MAFFS C-130s join Colorado wildland fire fighting effort

    Two Wyoming Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130s arrived here June 25 after the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) requested Department of Defense wildland firefighting support for the Rocky Mountain area.The 153rd Airlift Wing's aircraft, along with 16 personnel, join two MAFFS-equipped C-130s and
  • Members of the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyo., prepare to load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting System II onto a Wyoming Air National Guard C-130, June 24, 2012. The Wyoming Air National Guard MAFFS unit has been activated to support the Rocky Mountain area fires, they will base out of Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natalie Stanley)

    Wyoming Air Guard MAFFS activated to assist in Rocky Mountain area

    The Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing was activated to assist within the Rocky Mountain region to support wildland firefighting efforts, today.Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s and crews equipped with the U.S. Forest Service's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System will arrive at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
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