Airmen launch fifth day of California fire support

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 302nd Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AFPN) --  Airmen and aircraft of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group here launched their fifth day of California wildfire support June 30 in an effort to control fires engulfing areas of the Tahoe and Los Padres National Forests.

The 302nd AEG C-130 Hercules aircraft carry the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, known as MAFFS, capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant per mission in support of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection missions. 

With eight MAFFS-capable C-130s in the 302nd AEG, Airmen will launch as many missions as California officials require to contain the wildfires.

Aircrews have dropped approximately 117,000 gallons of fire retardant since airborne missions began June 26. The C-130s are based in Sacramento and allows the aircraft to fly with maximum fuel loads and operate MAFFS with full fire retardant capability. 

The 302nd AEG is made up of two Air National Guard units -- the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyo., and the 145th Airlift Wing from, Charlotte, N.C. -- and one Air Force Reserve unit, the 302nd Airlift Wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Airmen flying C-130s are fighting fires in the American River Complex, the location of the Tahoe forest that are 10 percent contained, while fires throughout the Basin Complex and Los Padras National Forest are 3 percent contained and have scorched more than 35,000 acres.

Airmen of the 302nd AEG, based out of McClellan Airfield in Sacramento, are now joined by Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing of San Diego. Using the CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, the Marines are battling fires in the Mariposa area of the Oliver fire complex. The helicopters and aircrews are currently based out of Naval Air Station Lemoore and fly more than 100 miles to reach fires. Fires being fought here by firefighters from 41 states and Marines from the 3rd MAW are 55 percent contained.

The American River Complex fires are located about 50 miles north of Sacramento and are threatening residential areas there. Fires raging in the Basin Complex include the Piute fire, which started June 28, is more than 260 miles south of Sacramento. That fire is uncontrolled, raging throughout the Sequoia National Forest near Lake Isabella. Fire officials are reporting that structures are being threatened by this fire.

More than 6,400 lives are being threatened by each fire. Fire information is current as of 2 p.m. June 30.

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