California and Nevada Air National Guards brought out their heavy assets June 15-19, 2020, in preparation for each state’s biggest annual enemies i.e. wildfires.
wildland firefighting training
A slew of C-130 Hercules aircraft from both western states filled the skies above Tahoe National Forest in Forest Hill, California, during U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service-sponsored wildland firefighting training.
With multiple state and federal organizations participating, the Cal Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and Nevada’s 152nd Airlift Wing deployed their Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) as a means of preparing for the upcoming wildfires.
Seamless training
California is one of our geographic areas where we activate the MAFFS quite frequently'
“California is one of our geographic areas where we activate the MAFFS quite frequently,” said Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director for operations for the USDA Forest Service.
“It’s really important that we train every year so that we can seamlessly and effectively integrate those aircraft into our firefighting operations. It helps ensure our mutual preparedness.”
Using Fire retardants
During an actual fire, the MAFFS can discharge up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide.
But for training purposes, aircraft released water over the unpopulated forest. National Guard aircraft followed lead planes that communicate with ground forces, pinpointing drop locations. Once a load is discharged, MAFFS can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.
training sessions
“The fire training consists of every aircrew performing simulated fire runs along with a lead plane,” said Lt. Col. Todd Morgan, the Cal Guard’s MAFFS mission commander.
“It’s important for the aircrew every year to get this training for multiple reasons. One, it builds our relationships and camaraderie between us and our federal and state entities. This also ensures every aircrew can perform their tasks, and build their skills for the fire season.”
Annual training
California, Nevada, and Wyoming National Guards all have MAFFS capabilities
California, Nevada, and Wyoming National Guards all have MAFFS capabilities. A Colorado Air Force reserve unit also houses the system, making these the only four entities in the United States to deploy MAFFS, Christensen explained.
“We train annually,” she said. “We were just in Colorado last month. Now we’re here this week wrapping up our training with Nevada and California units.”
Fighting fire together
“It really speaks truly to the inter-agency nature of the work that we do,” added Christensen. “As you know, fire has no boundaries. We train together, we fight fires together. The fire starts on one agency and spreads to another. On a fire at any given time, you’re going to see multiple agencies working and coming together to manage that fire.”
CAL FIRE as a participant
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), as well as the Bureau of Land Management, serves as lead participants in this training. Cal Guard and CAL FIRE are both prepared to unite in another year of battling blazes.
Per CAL FIRE, there have been nearly 2,500 fires that have torched roughly 14,000 acres so far in 2020. And this is still early in the “fire season.” In this same span in 2019, there were only 1,400 fires that burned 11,000 acres.
MAFFS program
The MAFFS program has been in place since the 1970s, according to Christensen. It’s been utilized every year since then except for 13 fire seasons.
“It really is a testament to the importance of inter-agency coordination and cooperation,” she said. “A lot of people come together to make this happen. MAFFS is our surge capability,” said Caleb A. Berry, aviation management specialist, USDA Forest Service.
“When our contract aircraft and our retardant platforms are all fully committed and we need just a little more help, MAFFS is our go-to resource.”
Certification sessions
Added Berry, “What we need for them to do is to be currently trained aircrews so they can fit seamlessly into our firefighting organization. That’s what we’re accomplishing here, getting them prepared to go into firefighting mode with us.”
The certification mission includes classroom sessions, flying, and ground operations for Air Force aircrews. Civilian lead plane pilots and support personnel from the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other state and federal firefighting agencies, are also trained.