MAFFS air tankers fly initial attack on new fire start

Published May 5, 2011
By Alan Barbian

ABILENE, Texas -- Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System air tankers flying out of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene supported initial attack firefighters on a new fire start - the X's Ranch Fire - 46 miles north of Abilene late Wednesday afternoon.

C-130s from the 302nd Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserves from Colorado Springs, Colorado and the 146th Air Wing of the California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme, California delivered three air drops of approximately 9,000 gallons of retardant on the 100-acre X's Ranch Fire, which was quickly contained.

It's been a busy start to the week. Tuesday afternoon MAFFS tankers delivered 10 air drops of approximately 30,000 gallons of retardant on the Deaton Cole Fire located 150 miles southwest of Abilene.

For more information about MAFFS go to http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/fixed_wing/maffs/index.html

For more information about the Deaton Cole Fire go to http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=12888 or http://www.inciweb.org