A fifth C-130 equipped with the USFS Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) fitted has been mobilized to support wildfire response operations in the western United States.

The aircraft, from the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada, will be joining two other C-130s at the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Two additional MAFFS equipped C-130s are also currently operating out of the Redding Air Attack Base, California, making a total of five MAFFS configured C-130s currently activated.

MAFFS is a roll-on-roll-off system that provides an aerial firefighting surge capability when civilian air tanker resources are committed and additional aircraft are required. The system can be installed aboard specially configured military C-130 aircraft and can discharge up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant during a single drop.

Aircraft from the Nevada Air National Guard 152nd Airlift Wing, Reno, Nevada, California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, Port Hueneme, California, Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB, Colorado and the Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming are all part of the MAFFS program.