Fire Protection Links
- Fire Information
- Cooperative Efforts
- Air Program
- Mobile Equipment
- CAL FIRE Academy
- State Fire Training
- Memorial and Honorees
- Medal of Valor Honorees
- Be Prepared For Any Emergency
- Wildland Hazard & Building Codes
Fighting Fire From The Air
More Info...
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are military C-130 transport planes that can be converted to serve as fire fighting airtankers. The C-130 can carry 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. The CAL FIRE S-2T airtanker carries 1200 gallons.
MAFFS are requested only when all other fire service aircraft are committed to major, extended incidents. They are considered a 24-hour resource, meaning that when ordered, it will be at least 24 hours before they can be expected on duty. When ordered, MAFFS must be taken from their regular military duties and then fitted with fire fighting airtanker equipment.
There are eight MAFFS in the United States. Two are stationed in California, the rest around the nation. All eight have been committed to California fires in the past.
MAFFS Mission Report
July 18th, 2008
Today’s Topic: What is a D.V. and Where Do They All Come From?
If you have been following the MAFFS Mission Reports up to now, you know we have had our share of “D.V’s.”
Some of the D.V.’s have been in military uniform and some have arrived wearing business attire, sans coat and with their shirt sleeves rolled up.
The D.V.’s are typically anticipated and are appreciated for their interest in the MAFFS mission and their ability to provide active attention as appropriate.
In other words, these are people who can make things happen.
You can often do a field recognition of their presence by the mob of people that seem to move in unison around the area surrounding the D.V.—and sometimes they are accompanied by people wearing dark business suits with not-so-hidden bulges on their sides in the vicinity of their belt and talking into “their sleeves.”
So what exactly is a “D.V.?”
The acronym “D.V.” stands for “Distinguished Visitor” and is typically reserved for people at the highest levels of the military and government.
As reported on these pages in the recent past, we had the distinguished Governor of the State of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, regale the troops with a visit and obvious heart-felt appreciation for the hard work of all the people working with the MAFFS mission. Based on both his current career and previous worldwide recognition as a star of the big screen, Governor Schwarzenegger would be considered a notable D.V.
That was followed shortly thereafter by a high-ranking Pentagon person, Mister Verga, who noted the excellent interagency cooperation. Given Mr. Verga’s proximity to national defense issues at the highest level, he would certainly be a high level D.V.
With the almost unprecedented nature of the siege of wildfires, which has consumed almost a million acres of land and destroyed more than 100 homes, it is not surprising that the major role the MAFFS aircraft has played in the aerial assault of the firefight has drawn attention at the highest levels of the military and government.
It doesn’t get much higher that the ranking uniformed military leader of the entire Northern Command of the United States of America; this being four-star General Victor E. Renuart Jr.
(Note: currently there are no five-star generals in the military, so a four-star is as high as it gets.)
And yes, he, too, visited the MAFFS mission base at McClellan the other day.
As the General’s motorcade came to a stop by the approximately one hundred waiting MAFFS personnel, Chief Onsgard called the troops to attention. As the General exited his black Suburban, he immediately put the men and women at-ease with a “relax, relax.” Having just left a meeting at the state capital with Governor Schwarzenegger, the General let the group know how their efforts were being noticed and appreciated. The General also commented on the great interagency cooperation, including with the Guard and Reserve personnel. In addition, he expressed his concern as to the impact and well-being to the troops and their families of the extended out-of-state deployment.
With the general’s extensive flight experience in multiple types of combat aircraft, including the venerable C-130, it was not a complete surprise that the General had a lot more than a passing interest and direct knowledge of the MAFFS mission and specifically the equipment design and operation.
While the pace of the wildfires have been slowing down somewhat, the general said “this ain’t over” and that we “will likely see more of this.” He also said, “We will stay as long as needed.”
The general spent considerable time walking among the gathered group and engaged in personable, individual conversations with many of them, taking time for handshakes and pictures with all who asked.
Given the obvious sincere interest the general displayed as he moved among the mission personnel, it could be said that if you looked up the word personable in the dictionary that day, you might actually find a picture of General Renuart.With the stature of the D.V.’s we have had visit the MAFFS base, how could we possibly get anyone with greater prestige and authority?
Well, there is still at least one higher authority in the military….the tanker base in Redding, California, did get a visit from the D.V. with the acronym of POTUS. (See picture.)
But, to paraphrase General Renuart…it ain’t over and we ain’t gone yet.
Click here for MAFFS retardant drop totals (7/12)
United States Northern Command
Previous Mission Reports
