Boise, Idaho – The USDA Forest Service is activating two Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS to assist with increased fire activity in several western states. The aircraft, from the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, from Cheyenne, Wyoming and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, will join […]
National Interagency Fire Center
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Military aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) mobilized to assist with wildfire suppression efforts
Boise, Idaho – The USDA Forest Service is activating two Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS to assist with increased fire activity in several western states. The aircraft, from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, will join the USDA Forest Service and other […]
Posted inRegional
Celebrating the First Annual National Wildland Firefighter Day
Wildland firefighting is difficult, physically arduous work, often largely undertaken out of the public eye. Every year, thousands of federal, state, local, Tribal, military and contract firefighters and support personnel respond to wildland fires across the U.S. As a result of climate change and other factors, these wildfires are increasingly larger and more complex, placing […]
Posted inCalifornia
Military Personnel Released from Wildfire Support Deployment
A group of approximately 200 active-duty Soldiers who have been assisting with fighting the Dixie Fire in northern California, were released on September 30. The Soldiers, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, WA, worked tirelessly on the Dixie Fire, assisting with various fireline operational duties. For a month, they worked alongside other firefighting resources battling […]
Posted inRegional
Military personnel mobilized to provide wildfire support
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho, requested a Department of Defense (DoD) activation of approximately 200 active-duty U.S. Army Soldiers to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) at NIFC requested the personnel, along with command and support staff, from the DoD. After receiving training, the Soldiers will […]
Posted inRegional
Eight MAFFS-equipped military C-130 aircraft now mobilized to assist with wildfires
The USDA Forest Service has activated two additional military C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS), bringing the total number of MAFFS-equipped aircraft to eight that are battling western wildfires. The MAFFS-equipped aircraft are operating out of McClellan Airbase in Sacramento and assisting the USDA Forest Service and other wildland fire agencies with […]
Posted inUS
United States Welcomes Australian Firefighting Aircraft ‘Marie Bashir’
A Boeing 737 airtanker from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia arrived at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho over the weekend. The firefighting aircraft is being made available to fight fires in the U.S. through an agreement between the USDA Forest Service and Australia. The 737 Fireliner is […]
Posted inCalifornia
Two MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft mobilized to assist with wildfires
McClellan, California – The USDA Forest Service has activated two military C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS to assist with increased fire activity in several western states. The aircraft, from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, will join the USDA Forest Service and other wildland fire […]
Posted inRegional
Wildfire prevention and responsible recreation go hand in hand
Every year, human-caused wildfires account for more than 80 percent of all wildfires in the United States. Though some fires are caused by accidents, many of them can be prevented. As the weather becomes warmer and wildland vegetation, or fuels, begin to dry out, the Recreate Responsibly Coalition, in partnership with the National Interagency Fire […]
Posted inCalifornia
Four MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft providing valuable support on wildfires
Boise, Idaho, August 20, 2020 – Four military C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) continue to provide valuable aerial firefighting support to a number of California wildfires. The four MAFFS aircraft, two of which were activated in July and two activated earlier this week, have completed 123 retardant drops, including several on […]
Posted inRegional
Two MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft activated to assist with wildfires
Boise, Idaho, July 23, 2020 – Yesterday, the USDA Forest Service has activated two military C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) to assist with increased fire activity in several western states. The aircraft, from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, will join the USDA Forest Service and other agencies battling western wildfires. […]
Posted inWorld
United States Sends Additional Fire Crews Australian Bushfire Response
Boise, Idaho January 22, 2020 – As wildfires continue to burn in Australia, the United States is sending additional U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire personnel to assist with ongoing bushfire suppression efforts in Australia. Three 10-person Incident Management Teams and a group consisting of air support personnel have […]
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US Wildland Fire Personnel Called to Assist with Australia Wildfires
Boise, Idaho December 5, 2019 – The United States is sending 21 wildland fire personnel from the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service to assist with ongoing wildfire suppression efforts in Australia. Australia is experiencing early and significant fire activity, particularly […]
Posted inRegional
Above Normal Large Fire Potential for October
October 2, 2018 – Little to no rain fell in the North Ops region in September. The region saw more time spent under the influence of dry low pressure troughs in September than usual. That, and periods of thick smoke from active wildfires, contributed to temperatures a bit cooler than normal in most areas and […]
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NIFC Mobilizes Active Duty Military Personnel
Boise, Idaho August 6, 2018 – The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho is mobilizing active duty military personnel to serve as firefighters to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. Currently, more than 127 wildfires are burning on about 1.6 million acres in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and […]
Posted inUS
NIFC mobilizes Australian and New Zealand firefighters to help with western wildfires
Boise, Idaho August 1, 2018 – Wildland fire managers at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho are mobilizing firefighters from Australia and New Zealand to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in the western United States. Australia and New Zealand have been key partners with the U.S. fire community for more than 50 […]
Posted inUS
National Wildfire Preparedness Moves to Highest Level
Boise, Idaho July 27, 2018 – The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) is raising the National Fire Preparedness Level (PL) to its highest point, PL-5, effective at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on July 27, 2018. The PL ranges from one, indicating minimal activity, to five, which signals very high activity. NMAC, which consists of […]
Posted inRegional
NIFC Mobilizes Active Duty Military to Help with Wildfire Suppression
Sept. 5, 2017 – The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho is mobilizing active duty military personnel to serve as firefighters to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. Currently, more than 80 large wildfires are burning on about 1.4 million acres in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming with nearly […]