A C-130J Hercules, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), from the Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, follows a US Forest Service lead plane under a large column of smoke preparing to drop retardant on the Pier Fire southeast of Fresno, Calif., Aug. 29, 2017. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves have been assisting US Forest Service wildfire suppression efforts out of Fresno Air Tanker Base since Aug. 10, 2017. Together they have accomplished more than 200 drops and 530,000 gallons of retardant this season.