Nevada National Air Guard Receives New Firefighting Mission in Reno, NV

The Nevada Air National Guard is taking on a mission they’ve been waiting for, a mission that will help a very common disaster in our area: wildfires.

The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada National Guard located in Reno, Nevada, is receiving one of four national firefighting missions, Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, or “MAFFS”.

MAFFS is a unit that is entered into a C-130 aircraft that is used for aerial firefighting and is filled with fire repellent that can be sprayed out of the aircraft. This unit is able to release up to 3,000 gallons of water, or retardant, in five seconds. This is about as much water as an average swimming pool can hold. Once the retardant is discharged, it can be refilled and airborne in less than 20 minutes.

The new MAFFS mission in Reno is very important because the base is located extremely close to one of the largest national forests in the lower 48 states, the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest. Especially with the recent drought, this forest has proven to be very prone to enormous wildfires. With the 152nd Airlift Wing equipped with MAFFS on their C-130 aircraft, they will be able to fight wildfires not only in the region but around the nation.

“We believe that we’re a unit that is absolutely capable to fly it,” said Col. Karl Stark, commander of the 152nd Airlift Wing.

According to the U.S. Air Force website, the C-130 aircraft has a large capacity that is designed to transport oversized cargo, troops, and emergency supplies. This aircraft is big enough to fit and transport an entire utility helicopter. They are able to load up to 42,000 pounds. In many ways, the C-130s are already equipped to quickly load the MAFFS on board.

“It’s a roll on, roll off configuration. So we’re not doing any permanent modifications to the aircraft,” said Master Sergeant Cameron Pieters, Flight Engineer for the 152nd Airlift Wing.

The 152nd Airlift Wing will be one of only four units nationwide with C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS. Since they have been flying the C-130 aircraft since 1996, their experience in mountainous terrain is extensive. This made them a strong candidate to receive the MAFFS mission.

“In my opinion, it’s a perfect fit for the unit, it’s a perfect fit for the state, it is all about what we are out here to do,” Col. Karl Stark said.

Before they can set out on the MAFFS mission, the 152nd Airlift Wing, or the “High Rollers,” are required to go through a lengthy certification process where they will train alongside the three other units already with the MAFFS mission.

The Air National Guard base in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be retiring the mission and passing it along to the High Rollers. They will be instrumental in training the Reno crew during the next three to five seasons before officially retiring.

“This training process will allow us to augment other crews and from that point on we will transition the full mission right here to Reno,” said Col. Karl Stark.

This specialized training and certification process will begin on May 1, in Channel Islands, California.

This mission is much different from The High Rollers’ tactical airlift mission that they have been carrying out for 20 years. They commonly fly missions where they transport people and supplies, Tech. Sgt. Emerson Marcus said.

With the arrival of the new MAFFS firefighting mission, the 152nd Airlift Wing will continue their duties of providing tactical air delivery.

“Because the actual MAFFS unit has the ability to be taken off and put back on the plane, we will still be doing our tactical airlift mission,” Communications and Navigation Specialist Joe Smith said.

This is a high-risk mission that requires the High Rollers to fly as low as 100 feet above flames and exploding tree stumps. This, along with the dense fire smoke, makes for minimal visibility for the pilots flying the C-130 aircrafts for this mission.

Other members of the Nevada Air National Guard have mixed emotions about the new and dangerous mission.

“This mission is very dangerous, it’s not something to be taken lightly and for us air crew members to go out there and fight this fire we have to be experienced. We have to be well trained,” MSgt. Pieters said, “I’m curious and excited and a little bit nervous to see what that’s all about.”

MSgt. Pieters has been working to get the MAFFS mission to Reno for eight years. He is honored to be able to help serve the general public and be able to put out wildfires in his own backyard, he said.

“Being born and raised here in Reno, Nevada, I am really excited since we live in an area that could really use this unit,” said MSgt. Pieters.