C-130 Hercules joins fight against Southwest U.S. wildfires

Colonel Catherine Grush of the 152nd Airlift Wing stated: “The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, is honored to once again answer the call in defense of our fellow Americans. Fighting wildfires from the air is demanding and dangerous work, but our Airmen take immense pride in serving alongside our civilian partners to protect homes, communities and the people of Nevada. This mission hits close to home—and we’re all in.”

The versatility of the C-130 makes it ideal for MAFFS operations. There are four MAFFS units nationwide: the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, the Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, 146th Airlift Wing, and 152nd Airlift Wing. These aircraft are activated by US Transportation Command through its Air Mobility Command in support of US Northern Command.

The MAFFS program is a collaboration between the US Forest Service (USFS) and Department of Defense (DoD). The USFS provides equipment and fire retardant while DoD supplies aircraft with crews and maintenance personnel. Each MAFFS aircraft can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant over a quarter-mile line in less than ten seconds.

Since its introduction in 1954 by Lockheed Martin (formerly Lockheed), more than 2,500 Hercules have been produced for over 25 operators worldwide. Its ability to operate on short runways in challenging environments makes it indispensable for military missions as well as emergency evacuations and disaster relief efforts.