BOISE, IDAHO -- The Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting System, or MAFFS, is trained, recertified, and ready to help fight wildfires in what may be a very active wildfire season.
MAFFS is a mix of Air National Guard and Air Force Reservists. There are four MAFFS units around the nation, including members of the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. There are eight C-130s that can be called in to aid the Forest Service should they need assistance in fighting fires.
Each C-130 can carry 3,000 gallons of fire retardant at a time, which will slow the fire so that ground crews can fight and contain the fire's spread. In the past, MAFFS has proven extremely helpful in some of Colorado's most devastating wildfires.
All members of MAFFS are military who volunteer their time. Each C-130 is equipped with the newer, more efficient MAFFS II system.
This year's training and recertification was held at Gowen Air Field in Boise, ID during early May. For the first time in MAFFS history, some C-130s could not be at the training because they were already on missions. The wildfire outbreak in Texas and Mexico has kept crews busy through the spring.
The wildfire potential for southern Colorado remains very high due to ongoing drought conditions and lack of winter snowfall.
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