Militant Air Force C-130s Airlifted for LA Wildfire
Firefighting aircraft equipped with the Modular Aerial Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) are heading to Southern California to combat the ongoing wildfires. Eight C-130 transport planes, each equipped with MAFFS, are en route to the Channel Island Air National Guard Station in California, according to a press release.
In addition to the C-130s, more than 880 Army and Air Guard members have mobilized, including helicopter crews, military police, and hand crews to work alongside local authorities. About 10 Navy helicopters are also expected to join the battle, equipped with water buckets to suppress the fires.
Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, located near the Palisades Fire, hosts the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, one of the activated C-130 MAFFS units. Other MAFFS-equipped units include 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. Each of these units is part of the Air Force's MAFFS capabilities.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, said in the release, "We're providing support to civil authorities, which is a valued part of our homeland defense mission."
MAFFS is a 11,000-pound metal tank that can drop 28,000 pounds of fire retardant in less than five seconds and be refilled on the ground in less than 12 minutes. The retardant is crucial for preventing wildfires from spreading, but due to the method of deployment, the planes fly low and slow, often over treacherous terrain, making it one of the riskiest flying operations a pilot can undertake, according to a Nevada MAFFS pilot.
These wildfires have proven challenging due to 80 mile-per-hour winds, which have hindered aerial firefighting efforts. The winds are expected to decrease the night of Jan. 10, but other challenges remain, such as the recent incident where a civilian drone hit a CL-415 firefighting aircraft over the Palisades Fire area despite temporary flight restrictions. The plane's wing was damaged, taking it out of commission during what may be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history, with at least 10 deaths and over 10,000 structures destroyed so far.
Civilian contractors typically handle aerial firefighting, but MAFFS serves as a surge force during particularly busy fire seasons like the 2021 Dixie Fire in Northern California. Congress created MAFFS in the early 1970s following the devastating Laguna Fire in San Diego County.
However, it's important to note that the provided sources do not mention MAFFS's direct involvement in the Dixie Fire. Nevertheless, MAFFS plays a vital role in the U.S.'s response to wildfires, offering essential aerial firefighting capabilities.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department reminded the public on social media that flying drones in the midst of firefighting efforts is illegal and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $75,000.
The Air Force's MAFFS capabilities are being utilized, with the 146th Airlift Wing at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station mobilizing C-130 planes. Other MAFFS-equipped units from the California, Wyoming, Nevada, and Colorado Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are also involved. The military's aerial firefighting efforts are facing challenges due to strong winds, but the support to civil authorities is part of the homeland defense mission. The misuse of civilian drones during firefighting operations, as demonstrated by the incident affecting a CL-415 firefighting aircraft, is illegal and punishable by law.
