AF drops 50,000 plus gallons of retardant on Colorado fires

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  More than 50,000 gallons of fire retardant was dropped by Air Force aerial firefighting aircraft June 25 on wildland fires burning throughout Colorado's West Fork Complex.

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s from both the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard performed 18 drops against the wildfires, releasing 52,650 gallons along mountain ridgelines and near homes throughout affected residential areas. The U.S. Forest Service directed all MAFFS support to the West Fork Complex for June 25, an area encompassing the Windy Pass, West Fork, and Papoose fires.

According to USFS officials, the West Fork Complex fires had grown to 81,331 acres with zero percent containment as of 9:30 a.m. June 26.

Flying over the fire-ravaged areas, Lt. Col. Luke Thompson, 302nd AW chief of aerial firefighting and certified MAFFS C-130 instructor pilot, said a number of retardant drops on the West Fork Complex fires were "very tight" as MAFFS aircraft dropped between homes and encroaching flames.

As we use ridge tops and canyons, we try to draw long lines to protect homes," Thompson said. "Down there, we've seen both light fire behavior and other areas erupting into big columns of flames with steep terrains and hot spots as well. These defensive lines are protecting structures."

At the request of the USFS, MAFFS aircraft and aircrews remain activated to provide support throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Since MAFFS aircraft first provided support to the Black Forest fire June 12, more than 169,000 gallons of fire retardant have been dropped on Colorado wildfires. Both aircraft and Airmen from the AF Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing and the 146th AW from the California ANG are providing MAFFS assistance to the USFS.

Thompson said after two weeks, crew morale still remains high.

"Crews are still ready to launch against these fires. These have been long days, every day. But overall, morale with the crews is good."

The MAFFS units are owned by the U.S. Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprise the National Interagency Fire Center based in Boise, Idaho.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense. These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural resources, and can include, but are not limited to, MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting the firefighting efforts.