The @forestservice has been busy at COS to support multiple wildfires in the area, including the #SpringFire. This is a C-130 equipped with a Mobile Airborne Fire Fighting System to act as an air tanker. pic.twitter.com/kfkzb0i3PU
— CO Springs Airport (@COSAirport) July 2, 2018
The 302nd Airlift Wing has now joined the fight against the massive Spring Fire burning in Costilla and Huerfano Counties Monday.
The Air Force Reserve Command will be flying two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting (MAFF) C-130s to make water drops on the fire, which has burned an estimated 56,686 acres as of Monday afternoon.
Some of those drops were captured by our cameras Monday evening.
They were activated due to the high number of requests for large air tankers around the west, especially in Colorado.
The C-130s will be making flights from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. They can drop 3,000 gallons of water or retardant in less than five seconds.
That water can cover a quarter mile, 100 foot wide stretch. That tank can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.
As of Monday night, the Spring Fire has burned an estimated 60,710 acres and is 5 percent contained.
