Footage: Witness C-130 Air Force Crew Flying Low to Combat Los Angeles Fire

Fighting the Flames: A Peek into the Airborne Firefighting Battle

Witness an intense first-hand account of brave airborne firefighters tackling the immense wildfires devastating Los Angeles. U.S. Northern Command and National Guard shared a video on Facebook on January 12, giving us an unprecedented, over-the-shoulder perspective of a C-130J crew from the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, as they bravely tackled the blaze above the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 11.

To ensure maximum accuracy, these aerial firefighting warriors must fly close to the ground and at low speeds. The video captures the C-130J skimming across ridge lines, punctuated by the cockpit altitude warning signal. A thick cloud of smoke can be seen to the aircraft's right throughout the video.

At approximately 12 seconds, the small white lead plane guiding the C-130J to its target is clearly visible. Meanwhile, around 24 seconds, a faint whoosh can be heard as the C-130J releases fire retardant through the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS), an extensive 11,000-pound tank capable of discharging 28,000 pounds of fire retardant in under five seconds via a tube jutting from the aircraft's side. The retardant aids in stopping wildfires from spreading, making way for ground crews to contain them.

A second shot from behind and between the pilots adds to the mission's drama, with the windscreen showcasing jagged, tree-covered mountains seemingly rushing beneath the aircraft. The video's audio reveals multiple instances of the MAFFS system releasing its contents throughout the video. It takes approximately 12 minutes to refill the MAFFS system, and the crew was reportedly refueled, with a Chick-fil-A box standing by on the pilot's left about midway through the video. A separate ground-level video shows a 146th Wing aircraft releasing fire retardant.

U.S. Northern Command mobilized all eight of the Air Force's MAFFS-equipped C-130s on January 9 to combat the fires. Over the weekend, these aircraft delivered reinforcements to the 146th Airlift Wing, stationed at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, California, located west of the record-breaking Palisades Fire. Additional aircraft arrived from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing, and the 302nd Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit based in Colorado.

"Watching the absolute devastation of the wildfires in California has been heartbreaking," Commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, Col. Brian Diehl, stated in a press release on January 10. "We're proud to contribute to our nation's efforts in combating these fires and restoring normalcy to the people and communities of southern California as quickly as possible."

Although civilian contractors handle the majority of aerial firefighting, MAFFS serves as a surge force, and recent reports suggest the C-130s have flown six MAFFS missions over the weekend, with more missions expected. With over 15,000 personnel fighting the Los Angeles fires, according to Cal Fire, MAFFS-equipped aircraft play a crucial role in supporting ground crews.

Apart from the C-130s, the military's response to the fires includes around 1,800 California National Guard helicopter crews, military police, and hand crews collaborating with local law enforcement and firefighters. As of now, 24 people have been killed, and over 12,000 structures have been damaged by the fires, although this figure may also encompass vehicles, as distinguishing them from small structures using infrared images can sometimes be challenging.

Upcoming winds may cause hindrances, further spreading the fires and grounding aircraft, posing a significant challenge to firefighting efforts. However, containing the wildfires stands at 14% for the Palisades Fire and 33% for the Eaton Fire, referring to how much of a fire is confined by a barrier, such as bare soil or a river, capable of preventing the fire from spreading further.

The Pentagon has dispatched its air force to aid in the firefighting efforts, with the Air Force's MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft playing a crucial role in supporting ground crews.
Although sports like NBA, WNBA, and NCAA-basketball have been halted due to the wildfires, the military's aircraft pilots are working tirelessly in their own 'slam dunk' moments, dropping fire retardant to curb the spread of the blaze.
In between their aerial battles, some pilots managed to grab a quick snack, with a Chick-fil-A box seen on the pilot's left during one of the refueling stops.
As the military works hand-in-hand with civilian contractors and local law enforcement, the valuable sports equipment and arenas of the LA region now serve as temporary bases for the air force's aircraft, transforming the sports landscape into a battleground.
Amidst the chaos, military helicopters, similar to those used in sports television coverage, swirl overhead, taking on the roles of both news choppers and firefighting machines.
As the wildfires continue to rage and the winds pick up, the air force is on standby, ready to take off at a moment's notice, armed with their MAFFS systems and weapons specially designed for firefighting, determined to protect the civilians and save the day.