The US Department of Defense has deployed two Lockheed Martin C-130 transports to California in support of wildfire suppression operations in the area.
The aircraft are under control of the US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and were requested to assist by the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, it was announced on 22 September.
The C-130s are equipped with the US Forest Service’s modular airborne firefighting systems (MAFFS), supported by the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
MAFFS integration with the C-130s turns the aircraft into air tankers that can be used to drop fire retardant.
US Air Force
The “King Fire” spreading throughout California has been caused by drought, and has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes as it continues to spread at a rapid pace.
NORTHCOM provides DoD capabilities such as the C-130s for disaster response operations for the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Interagency Fire Center, and monitors wildfires in order to prepare necessary units for deployment in support of these departments.
Meanwhile, a US Air Force C-130 was deployed to Mexico on 19 September at the request of the State Department to transport 41 US citizens stranded as a result of Hurricane Odile, which formed in early September.
“At the request of the State Department and with [Defense] Secretary [Chuck] Hagel's approval and that of the government of Mexico, 41 US citizens that were stranded in Cabo San Lucas during the hurricane were flown to Los Angeles International airport on an air force C-130,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby says.
“That is, right now, the extent of any transportation that we expect for American citizens out of Mexico.”
The 41 citizens “asked for transport”, according to Kirby, and therefore a large-scale evacuation of US citizens from Mexico is not expected.
“We obviously remain postured and have aircraft available should there be additional requests or a need, but right now we don't foresee that,” Kirby adds.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
