302nd Air Expeditionary Group continues to fight Texas wildfires

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Margo Allen
  • 302nd Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continues to battle the wildfires that are raging throughout areas of southern Texas. The 302nd, comprised of both Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units, has been assisting with firefighting efforts throughout the week. The AEG currently has six deployed C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems.

Due to weather conditions the aircrews were not called upon to make drops yesterday, yet they remained on duty in order to provide critical support upon tasking from the United States Forest Service.

"There was an increase in humidity yesterday so the fire risks were lower," said Terry Corning-Sevey, MAFFS liaison officer, "and it is ultimately up to the ground operations to call for air support resources. They did not call yesterday so we did not fly."

To date the 302nd AEG has accomplished 64 drops since their arrival April 17, and have dropped 90,000 gallons of retardant over Texas.

The combined dedication of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group has supported the effort to control the 993,000 acres of burning wildfires in Texas.

The 302nd AEG is comprised of the 302nd Airlift Wing from Colorado, the 146th Airlift Wing from California, the 145th Airlift Wing from North Carolina and the 153rd Airlift Wing from Wyoming.

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.

The MAFFS is owned by the USDA Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprise the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The Department of Defense is flying at the request of NIFC.

U.S. Northern Command, through its Air Force Component Command, Air Forces Northern, deployed the 302nd AEG to serve as the lead DoD effort supporting the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho."

For more information, please contact Senior Airman Margo Allen, 302nd Air Expeditionary Group public affairs officer at (760) 608-0258.