C-130s Continue to Battle Wildfires

Four specially configured C-130s continue to operate out of Kirtland AFB, N.M., in support of efforts to contain wildfires in New Mexico, including those threatening the Los Alamos National Lab in the northern part of the state. Through Wednesday, these Modular Airborne Firefighting System-carrying airplanes had flown a total of 122 sorties since June 16, completing 133 airdrops, Air Forces Northern spokesman Tom Saunder told the Daily Report Thursday. The aircraft have released 308,989 gallons of fire retardant (2,811,804 pounds) in those airdrops, he said. On Tuesday, two MAFFS-equipped C-130s and their crews arrived at Kirtland from Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., relieving two MAFFS C-130s from the California Air National Guard’s 146th AW at Channel Islands ANG Station. They joined two MAFFS C-130s from the North Carolina Air Guard’s 145th AW in Charlotte, keeping the strength of the aerial firefighting force deployed to Kirtland at four airplanes.