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  • California firefighting commander: 'Great job' by Airmen

    People in California noticed the job Airmen at McClellan Airfield performed in fighting California's wildfires and could not stop telling the commander of U.S. Northern Command during his July 17 visit to Sacramento. "State leaders are stumbling over each other trying to thank you guys!" said Gen.

  • 302nd AEG conducts 22nd day of California wild fire support

    Aircraft and firefighters of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group began their 22nd day of aerial firefighting support missions July 17 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. On July 16, the 302nd AEG military aviation assets performed a total of four air drops, delivering 5,600

  • 302nd AEG conducts its 21st day of California wild fire support

    Aircraft and firefighters from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group began their 21st day of aerial firefighting support missions July 16 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. On July 15, aerial assets of the 302nd AEG did not perform aerial firefighting missions due limited

  • Coast Guard provides maintenance support to 302nd AEG

    Coast Guardsmen from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento opened their hangar doors for maintainers from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group, making it easier for them to work on the modular airborne fire fighting system-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft that are assisting with fighting wildfires in

  • 302nd AEG conducts its nineteenth day of California wild fire support

    Aircraft and firefighters from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group stand ready to begin their 19th day of aerial firefighting support missions July 14 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. July 13, aerial assets of the 302nd AEG did not perform aerial firefighting missions due

  • 302nd AEG conducts its twentieth day of California wild fire support

    Aircraft and firefighters from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group stand ready to begin their 20th day of aerial firefighting support missions July 15 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. On July 14, aerial assets from the 302nd AEG did not perform aerial firefighting missions

  • Military aircraft provide surge capability for wildfire response

    A continuing heat wave and an ongoing need for aircraft to support ground firefighters will likely keep Department of Defense aircraft very busy for the foreseeable future in support of the national wildland firefighting effort, the Army colonel in charge of coordinating that support said July 9.

  • Fire retardant reload operations moved to Channel Islands

    The 302nd Air Expeditionary Group moved some critical fire retardant reloading equipment to the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station July 8 to increase the efficiency of modular airborne firefighting systems-equipped C-130 Hercules in battling wildfires in California. The purpose for setting

  • Maintainers keep C-130's flying during wildfire operations

    As the fires in California continue to threaten lives and property, maintainers from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group ensure that the modular airborne fire fighting system-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft are ready to fly and drop fire retardant on time and on target. When it comes to getting the

  • MAFFS 'safety man' keeps people, environment safe

    Since firefighting operations started June 26, Airmen from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group have been busy on the ground, keeping operations running smoothly at McClellan Airfield, Calif. The job to keep those Airmen safe goes to Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Smith, from Cheyenne, Wyo. Sergeant Smith is

  • California fire support missions continue July 4

    Airmen from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group launched their ninth day of Aerial support missions July 4 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. The aircrews, flying Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft, focused their firefighting efforts on the

  • Airmen continue California firefighting support

    Aimen from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group launched their eighth day of Aerial support missions July 3 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. The C-130 aircrews focused their firefighting efforts on the Gap fire in the Los Padres National Forest and the Piute fire located in

  • C-130s continue aerial firefighting operations in California

    Aircraft from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continued aerial firefighting support missions July 5 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. C-130 Hercules aircraft flew 25 sorties in approximately 50 flight hours. Twelve sorties flew to the Goleta, or Gap, fire located

  • California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits 302nd AEG

    During a visit to the California National Guard fire fighting training facility at McClellan Airfield here, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a brief visit to the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group to wish Airmen a happy 4th of July and thank them for their service in assisting with

  • Teamwork helps Airmen fight fires

    Airmen of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continued to work with national agencies July 5 to support firefighting efforts in California. Launching from McClellan Airfield, eight Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft flew a total of 40 sorties July 5 and dropped a

  • Air traffic controller supports California wildfire effort

    As a C-130 Hercules from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group rolls down the ramp here ready to take off to fight California's wildfires, an air traffic controller in the tower at McClellan Airfield ensures each flight takes off and lands safely. William Grava looks over the airfield and scans the

  • National Guard ordered to battle California wildfires

    Approximately 200 California National Guard members were ordered by the state governor July 2 to provide direct ground support to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to extinguish wildfires in the northern part of the state. There are already more than 500 Guard Soldiers and

  • Airmen support California firefighting for sixth day

    Airmen of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group here are into their sixth day of California wildfire support July 1 helping to control fires engulfing areas of the Sequoia National Forest. Airmen of the 302nd AEG operate out of McClellan Airfield in Sacramento and fly C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped

  • Airmen launch fifth day of California fire support

    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

  • Third Reserve C-130 joins California wildfire fight

    A third Air Force Reserve Command C-130H Hercules was dispatched June 27 to help fight raging wild fires in California. Officials from the 302nd Airlift Wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., sent the additional airplane and crews to join the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group at McClellan Airfield in

  • Citizen Airmen prepare for war on fire

    Airmen, deployed to California for firefighting support, are getting ready to take the fight to nature's fury. "I'm proud both the Air Force Reserve and (Air National Guard) are able to support such a vital national mission," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Bailey, a loadmaster with the 302nd Airlift Wing at

  • Reserve C-130s called in to fight California wildfires

    The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing here is scheduled to deploy two firefighting C-130 Hercules aircraft June 25 to battle raging wildfires in California. The Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, configured C-130s will be in place and fully-operational at Chico Municipal

  • Firefighting aircrews face unique challenges

    The military crews in the planes dropping fire retardant on wildfire flames in southern California face hazards and challenges unique to their humanitarian mission. First is the low altitude at which they fly and the sudden, violent updrafts and downdrafts caused by the heat of the fire. Factor in

  • Airmen continue fight on Southern California wildfires

    Four specially equipped Modular Airborne Firefighting System C-130 Hercules aircraft joined the massive firefighting effort in Southern California Oct. 23 and continue to fly missions as weakening winds allowed an aerial assault on the state's destructive wildfires. Since Oct. 24, the Air National

  • Air Force, forest service team to fight California fires

    More than 50 years ago, the Air Force and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service teamed up to equip aircraft with the capability to fight large-scale fires -- a union that is yielding huge dividends in the battle against the raging wildfires that broke out in southern California earlier this

  • Air Force Reserve unit deploys to fight California fires

    Two Air Force Reserve Command firefighting C-130 Hercules aircraft left Oct. 23 to help battle the raging wildfires in Southern California. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, requested Department of Defense assistance in fighting the fires which put the wheels in motion for the

  • Reserve C-130s helping fight California fires

    Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing here has launched two firefighting C-130 Hercules aircraft to battle the raging wildfires in southern California. Two additional C-130s also are going to support the operation. National Interagency Fire Center officials in Boise, Idaho, requested

  • Military personnel, assets help to battle California fires

    Military personnel and assets are helping out in the most serious outbreak of wildfires in California in years. California National Guard and California-based active duty personnel are providing some of the muscle needed to contain the fires, which have driven more than 300,000 people from their

  • Air Force aerial firefighters train in New Mexico

    C-130 Hercules aircraft dotted the sky over central New Mexico April 30 through May 2 as 300 Airmen prepared to help fight wild land fires that may break out this year. Cibola National Forest officials and Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson Air Force Base,

  • Reservists ready to fight wildfires in Pacific Northwest

    Air Force Reserve Command's only airborne fire fighting unit is back on the road and ready to fight fires again. Twenty-one members of the 302nd Airlift Wing boarded a C-130 Hercules Aug. 27 and headed for Klamath Falls, Ore. There they will stage Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or

  • Air Force fighting fires at home

    Guardsmen and reservists are used to international situations that call for them to put out fires. Now, they are doing it here at home -- literally.More than 60 guardsmen and four specially equipped C-130 Hercules from North Carolina and Wyoming Air National Guard units are battling blazes in the

  • Reservists helping forest service fight fires

    As the sun sets, a C-130 Hercules rolls in, covered in a thin misty layer of reddish orange liquid fire retardant. The retardant coats everything it has touched, serving as a reminder to the Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing of the heroic adventure they have just completed.As of Aug. 5, the unit

  • Firefighting aircraft deploy to Arizona

    Two Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Hercules aircraft and their crews deployed to Mesa, Ariz., May 23 to prepare for fire season in Arizona.The planes, equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system, are being pre-positioned to augment the Forest Service. The system disperses a liquid fire

  • Air National Guard unit fights wildfires

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 146th Airlift Wing launched aircraft outfitted for aerial firefighting May 5 to aid in the fight against Southern California wildfires.The wing's first missions of the day were flown against Santa Barbara County's Cachuma fire.The Ventura County-based

  • Airmen help fight California wildfires

    Airmen are helping combat the wildfires raging in California, officials said Oct. 28.Two C-130 Hercules equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems began operations Oct. 27, and more will follow. The system is a self-contained, 3,000-gallon aerial fluid dispersal system that fits in the