The training took place at Peterson Air Force Base, and nearby forests west of Colorado Springs played host to training drops from the 302nd Aircraft Wing’s C-130 Hercules aircraft. The aircraft are equipped with the US Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line.

Col James DeVere, 302nd Airlift Wing commander, said: “Training together is vital. We are able to battle wildfires as one seamless interagency team working with the US Forest Service because of the training we do together.”

The certification training, sponsored by the US Forest Service, included classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots, and support personnel from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other state and federal firefighting agencies.

The three Air National Guard wings tasked with conducting MAFFS missioned include: the 146th Airlift Wing from Channel Islands, California, 152nd Airlift Wing from Reno, Nevada and the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyoming. The 302nd Airlift Wing is the only Air Force Reserve unit executing the MAFFS mission.

"Wildland fire management agencies have relied on MAFFS for more than 40 years to provide a surge capacity when commercial air tankers are fully committed or not readily available, as they frequently are during periods of high wildfire activity," said Kim Christensen, Deputy Assistant Director for Operations at the US Forest Service. "Training that includes all of the military and civilian personnel that work together when MAFFS are mobilised is critical to ensure that military aircraft fly safely and effectively and that they can be seamlessly integrated into wildfire suppression operations."