PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE – They’re called MAFFS, or Modular-Airborne -Firefighting-Systems, and they’re in southern Colorado training for another fire season.
The modified C-130’s are a joint effort between the Forest Service and the DoD.
The retardant the planes drop can and does save lives and property.
“We’re taking a military aircraft, which is normally a tactical airlifter on a military mission, and in the back we roll in the modular firefighting system into the back of the airplane,” said Commander James Devere.
The Forest Service is predicting a late wildfire season through most of the southwest region thanks to the good winter moisture southern Colorado saw this year.
