CHEYENNE – Neighboring states and countries have been sending additional resources to help contain several fires in the Los Angeles area, including Wyoming.
The fires began on Jan. 7, destroying thousands of homes and killing at least 27 people, with more than 30 missing. The blaze has burned dozens of square miles, forced thousands from their homes and stretched firefighting resources thin.
While resources from the Wyoming State Forestry Division that were meant to be dispatched Tuesday are on hold at the request of California, three Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s from the 153rd Airlift Wing were activated Jan. 10 to support firefighting efforts in the Golden State.
The C-130s are equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS, and associated personnel were activated by U.S. Northern Command, according to a Wyoming Air National Guard news release.
There are 145 people currently assigned to a Wyoming National Guard mission to support California in combating the fires. Of those, 138 are in California.
Lt. Col. Laura Jeffrey, a C-130 instructor navigator for the Wyoming Air National Guard, is among them. Back in Cheyenne, Jeffrey teaches her peers the basics of aviation and navigation, as well as any additional skills needed to upgrade their certifications. Right now, her primary job is serving in California, assisting with the fires.
“We received some discussion about a possible activation on the ninth of January, and they said we need to get our MAFFS units loaded, and that they needed us to go to California,” Jeffrey said. “In 48 hours, we identified the air crews, the maintenance package, got the aircraft loaded with the MAFFS units, and we headed out to California.”
Since their arrival on Jan. 11, 16,000 gallons of retardant has been dropped on the fires, the largest of which, the Eaton and Palisades fires, are not yet contained.
Jeffrey and her peers are currently on standby, ready for launch orders. There are several fires still burning, and all of their assets are available to combat the fires.
When they’re not flying, airmen are helping on the ground in any way they can.
“This is what we do as citizen airmen,” Jeffrey said. “We’re here to support those who are in need, and we all embrace this opportunity to be here to help folks.”
While the aircraft and personnel are ready, airmen have to be cognizant of the weather and its effects. Red flag wind warnings in the area could create a dangerous environment for aircraft.
“To be airborne in those types of wind conditions, which also changes fire behavior, could put the aircraft in an unsafe state,” Jeffrey said.
Dry Santa Ana winds have worsened the fire’s effects. Air conditions have also complicated firefighting efforts.
“It’s a very robust situation when it comes to firefighting, and there are a lot of considerations,” Jeffrey said.
Wyoming’s participation is part of a more significant effort spearheaded by the U.S. Northern Command, working with the U.S. Forest Service, and Air National Guard aircraft and crews from Nevada, Colorado and California.
“It has been difficult to watch the absolute devastation of the wildfires in California,” said Col. Brian Diehl, the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing commander. “We’re honored to be able to participate in our nation’s efforts to combat these fires and return normalcy to the people and communities of Southern California, and as soon as possible.”
This mission is largely supported by citizen airmen who left their civilian lives in a time of need, including Jeffrey.
“We are always ready for the call, no matter what it might be,” Jeffrey said. “If it’s a natural disaster, we’re here to assist those who are in need.”
Eight MAFFS-equipped aircraft have come from the 146th Airlift Wing in California (Air National Guard); 152nd Airlift Wing and 192nd Airlift Squadron in Nevada (Air National Guard); 153rd Airlift Wing and 187th Airlift Squadron in Wyoming (Air National Guard); and the 302nd Airlift Wing and 731st Airlift Squadron in Colorado (Air Force Reserve), according to the release.
MAFFS are the U.S. Forest Service’s portable fire-retardant delivery systems, which can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to convert them into air tankers when needed, according to the release.
They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area a quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or they can make variable drops. Once a load is discharged from a MAFFS-equipped aircraft, and the aircraft lands at a tanker base, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes, according to the release.
It is unclear how long Jeffrey and her peers will be in California.