Air Force Reserve C-130s support fight against Mexican wildland fires

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LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Two Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted three aerial firefighting missions from here April 16 in support of the ongoing efforts to contain the wildland fires the Mexican state of Coahuila.

The aircrew dropped about 9,000 gallons of fire suppressant on the effected area, approximately 50 miles south of the Texas/Mexico border.

The aircraft are equipped with the U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, a self-contained aerial firefighting system designed for installation on the C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to the aircraft.

Each MAFFS aircraft can drop up to 3,000 gallons of suppressant or fire retardant on each mission.

At the request of the Mexican government and U.S. Department of State, U.S. Northern Command deployed the two C-130 aircraft to assist Mexico's fire fighting efforts against the wildfires that have burned more than 245,000 acres in Coahuila.

The C-130s are from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., and are under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command during this contingency.

(Courtesy of U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs)