“MAFFS certification training provides the MAFFS community the opportunity to engage not only between the four different MAFFS Wings, but also state and federal agencies,” said Col. Evan Kirkwood, 152nd Airlift Wing Commander. “During this rigorous week of training the Airmen of the 152nd Airlift Wing will strengthen relationships and hone their low level flying skills in the most challenging environments. I am honored to be the first fully MAFFS qualified Wing Commander in our unit’s history and lead the finest Airmen in the United States Air Force.”
The training session is one of two this spring for the MAFFS program. The California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., will participate in the same recertification training at Channel Islands ANG Station May 8-12.
The eight C-130 Hercules aircraft that are part of the program are equipped with the USDA Forest Service’s MAFFS, which can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line. The system slides into the back of the military aircraft, and retardant is released through a nozzle on the rear left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to provide a critical “surge” capability to help slow or stop the spread of wildland fires. MAFFS aircraft are only activated when all commercial airtankers that are part of the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.
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As part of the training in Southern California, practice water drops will be conducted on some remote portions of the Angeles National Forest. Residents and visitors in those areas may see low-flying C-130 aircraft and smaller lead planes throughout the week.Note to news media: An opportunity to interview personnel and observe the training, including a practice water drop will take place at Channel Islands ANG Station on Thursday, April 14 at 11:30am. If interested, please RSVP to Master Sgt. Nicholas Carzis, 146th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, at 805-986-7420 or 805-701-8905.
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For more information on the MAFFS program, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/planes/maffsFor background photos and videos of the program, visit: www.dvidshub.net/feature/MAFFSAEG
Aerial Wildland Fire Training Taking Place at Channel Islands | Edhat
very interesting especially compared to what the Hotshot Wake Up just posted
New Weekly Wildfire Update Show:
Links below:
•Montana votes on House Bill 883 to allocate $186M to stage resources locally.
•Sponsors of the Bill say it’s needed because the Feds are slow to suppress and bring in resources. Huge implications for Montana firefighting companies.
•Idaho starts training its loggers to fight wildfires. Governor looking to bolster its ranks and heavy equipment contracts.
•Massive $1.6B wildfire lawsuit against PacifiCorp moves forward in Oregon.
•Parent company Berkshire Hathaway is back in familiar territory.
https://twitter.com/HotshotWake/status/1652660183649099782?t=wOdo598WfAuytMS6mrrMGw&s=19
The National #Preparedness Level has increased to 2 due to an increase in resource commitment to both wildland fire and #RxFire across multiple Geographic Areas and Request for Assistance from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC). #FireYear2023
https://twitter.com/NIFC_Fire/status/1655740057473650688?t=ZRmHXYVmSJgEn8-1sNLJBA&s=19
