C-130s stationed at Dyess to help fight Texas fires

Four specially equipped Air Force C-130s have been deployed to Dyess Air Force Base to help battle wildfires raging across Texas.
Marq Webb with the Texas Forest Service said Texas is mobilizing the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System for the first time.
The aircraft include two from the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard, one from the 153rd Airlift Wing in Wyoming, and one from the 145th Airlift Wing in North Carolina.
According to a news release from the U.S. Northern Command, MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.
Col. James Murray, commander of the 7th Mission Support Group at Dyess, said Monday in a news release that the Dyess team would support the firefighting crews with everything from meals to logistics to maintenance.
"Over the weekend, Dyess airmen quickly responded to a call from Texas for wildfire support. In a matter of hours, the wing prepared for and received four specially configured C-130 aircraft and 80 aircrew and support personnel who will provide vital airborne firefighting support to the state of Texas and surrounding areas," Murray said.
"The aircraft will start flight operations today, flying numerous missions to drop fire retardant agent on areas designated by the U.S. Forestry Service."
Brig. Gen. Robert Branyon, deputy Joint Forces Air Component Commander, said in the news release that providing airborne support to the residents of Texas is "Job 1 for the MAFFS."
"Whether it's a humanitarian effort, evacuee assistance, search and rescue, or dropping food and medical supplies into unreachable areas, we're poised and ready to help in any way possible," Branyon said.
"The wing has responded magnificently, and we will continue to provide whatever the state of Texas needs to get these fires under control," Murray said. "We are ready to sustain their operations indefinitely, if required, to ensure property and lives are safe. Between the 7th Bomb Wing and the 317th Airlift Group, we'll make sure they keep flying."