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Three Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s Hercules aircraft from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command continue to support wildland fire suppression efforts while the National Interagency Fire Center National Preparedness level reached PL5, the highest of five levels, on August 10.
"We are prepared to bring additional MAFFS aircraft if the need arises to mitigate damage from wildfires," said Colonel Bryan Allen, MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group Commander.
“A significant amount of initial and extended attack and large fire activity has occurred over the past several days as a result of lightning storms that have intensified local and geographic response,” said Dan Buckley, chair of NMAC.
The MAFFS mission had its busiest day so far this year on August 14, with 24 drops and 68,882 gallons dropped, all on the South Fork fire on the southeastern side of Yosemite National Park, near the town of Wawona. Fire crews were focused on building a strong retardant containment line along the western edge of the fire to protect the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees and Wawona. The fire remains to the east but continues to threaten these areas.
"The civilian support capabilities of the DoD are significant, and we have roles that expand well beyond those of war-fighting,” explained Allen. “As an example, members of the Air National Guard are supporting firefighters with advanced Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) tools, which greatly enhance their overall situational awareness fighting wildfires. These aircraft are normally used overseas, but in their civil support role can detect new fire starts, map fire activity and help with strategic planning, safe routes for ground crew egress and more. This example of support further illustrates the strong partnership between the DoD, Department of Agriculture and the Air National Guard."
As of August 18, 2017 the federally activated MAFFS cumulative totals grew to 127 drops disbursing 327,570 gallons of retardant on more than a dozen fires throughout California.
The last time that the National Preparedness Level was raised to 5 was on August 13, 2015. The National Preparedness Level remained at PL-5 for 24 days until it was dropped to 4 on September 6, 2015. This is the fifth time that PL-5 has been reached since 2007.
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Contact Maj. Kimberly Holman (805)340-7301 for information about MAFFS
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2017 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 245364 |
| Location: | BOISE, IDAHO, US |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, MAFFS C-130 Air Tankers Persistent in Western U.S.; Air National Guard, Reserves’, DoD support to USFS continues as fire activity increases, by Maj. Kimberly Holman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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