National Interagency Fire CenterAll Social Media
Contact Us
Toggle Font Size
      Toggle OpenDyslexic
      Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme
      Contact Us
KeywordsFire InformationNational Wildland Firefighter DayNational Fire NewsNICCInternational SupportFor MediaFire PreventionHot TopicsWildfire PreventionWildfire Prevention VideosWildfire MitigationWildfire EducationWildfire InvestigationFor PAOsAdditional ResourcesPIO Bulletin BoardAgency InformationHot TopicsIncident Resources for PIOsInciWeb InformationPIO ContactsSocial Media for PIOsTraining and Qualifications for PIOsWorking with Media and PublicProducer’s Guide to FilmingMilitary Support HistoryInciWebMapsNews ReleasesMilitary aircraft equipped with MAFFS mobilized to assist with wildfire suppressionUS firefighters continue to support Canada during record-breaking wildfiresNIFC celebrates second annual National Wildland Firefighter DayU.S. supports Canada with aviation resourcesU.S. fire resources continue to support CanadaU.S. resources support Canadian wildfiresSituation ReportNICC ReportsArchivesStatisticsSuppression CostsHuman-caused wildfiresLightning-caused wildfiresUAS IncursionsWildfires and acresOur ResourcesFirefightersCrewsOverheadSmokejumpersIncident Management TeamsAircraftAirtankersHelicoptersTactical AircraftSmokejumper AircraftEquipmentDozersEnginesWater TendersCaterersShowersNational Interagency Incident Communications DivisionHotsheet NewsNIICD ContactsNIICD DocumentsAvionicsCommunication Duty OfficerEngineering and DevelopmentP25 Digital RadiosInfrared BranchPhoenix Capabilities and ProductsMaintenanceCommunications OperationsRework and SupplyTechnical TrainingSuppliesGreat Basin CacheAccountabilityCache DemobilizationCache VansContactsEmergency HiringFormsOrderingReturnsMobilizationNICCNational Mobilization GuideTaking Care of Our OwnEmployee Assistance ProgramCritical Incident Stress ManagementManager’s ToolkitPeer Support RecruitmentRequest SupportSuicide PreventionStandardsRed BookBIA Preparedness ReviewsBLM Preparedness ReviewsFWS Preparedness ReviewsNPS Preparedness ReviewsUSFS Preparedness ReviewsProgramsCasual Payment CenterPublicationsProceduresCPC FormsAD Pay PlansAgency MemosHiring DocumentsCPC LinksDo What's Right TrainingAll SectionsPOSH ModuleCourse MaterialsHow to Report Harassment and PoliciesDownloadsEqual Employment OpportunityInformation TechnologyInteragency Fire Program ManagementIFPM StandardHuman ResourcesFire ManagementAgency SpecificBIABLMFSFWSNPSArchivesContactsJoint Fire Science ProgramMedical StandardsNational Incident Management OrganizationNational Wildfire Coordinating GroupNICCPost Fire RecoveryRAWSSafetySmoke ManagementTrainingVeteransCareersHuman ResourcesHuman Resources ContactsBenefitseOPFEmployee RelationsEthicsFormsPermanent EmployeesTemporary EmployeesTransfer Employees (within BLM)Transfer Employees (within DOI)Transfer Employees (outside DOI)Jobs and Human ResourcesTeleworkOWCPPerformance ManagementRating ManagementRetirementSecurityManager’s CornerDOI Wildland Fire JobsUSAJOBSBLM Fire Jobs PortalWorking in Wildland Fire with NPSUSDA Forest Service Job OpportunitiesAbout UsWhat is NIFC?Great Basin CacheGreat Basin SmokejumpersNICCRadio CacheRAWSReturns WarehouseWildland Firefighters MonumentNIFC CampusCampus TourHow Do I?Our PartnersBIABLMRecruitment ToolkitPodcastsBLM Aviation ProgramAdministrationAerial SupervisionAirspaceHelicoptersLibrarySafetySEATsSecuritySmokejumper AircraftTrainingUASBLM Aviation Support PositionsBLM CrewsBonneville HotshotsChena HotshotsCraig HotshotsDiamond Mountain HotshotsJackson HotshotsKern Valley HotshotsLakeview HotshotsMidnight Sun HotshotsRuby Mountain HotshotsSnake River HotshotsVale HotshotsBillings Veterans CrewDevil's Canyon Veterans CrewFolsom Lake Veterans CrewMedford Crew 10Spokane Veterans CrewVegas Valley Veterans CrewBLM Engine CrewsBLM Fire ManagementBLM Fire Prevention and EducationBLM Fire SupportBLM Fire TrainingATV Drip TorchFire Vehicle TrainingFitness ChallengeHigh Reliability Organizing (HRO)Improving Radio DisciplineLeadership Self-Development and IDPsBLM DispatchersBLM Fire InvestigationBLM Fuels CrewsBLM Fuels Management ProgramBLM Fuels TreatmentsCommunity AssistanceBLM Helitack CrewsBLM Alaska SmokejumpersGreat Basin SmokejumpersInformationOperationsTrainingRecruitmentHistoryOperational Medical Support ProgramNPSNWSFWSUSFSUSFANASFDODNIFC HistoryWorking with  UsWildland Fire JobsPublic ParticipationSubmit New Innovative IdeasVolunteerContractingDonationsNIFC Help DeskTelephonesWirelessIQCS Help DeskHelp Desk LinksSocial MediaMedia Submission Home
                        Fire Information
                        News Releases
  Aerial wildland fire training taking place in Boise april 25-29
MAFFS training in Boise, Idaho
File
              nr_maffs2022training.pdf
                              Other News Releases
    
      Military aircraft equipped with MAFFS mobilized to assist with wildfire suppression
          US firefighters continue to support Canada during record-breaking wildfires
          NIFC celebrates second annual National Wildland Firefighter Day
          U.S. supports Canada with aviation resources
          U.S. fire resources continue to support Canada
          U.S. resources support Canadian wildfires

  For Release: April 21, 2022 Contact: NIFC: Stanton Florea208-387-5437 stanton.florea@usda.gov
AFNORTH: Lt Col Karen Roganov850-774-1044 afnorth.pa@us.af.mil

**Aerial wildland fire training taking place in Boise April 25-29**

Boise, Idaho – The USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, other federal wildland fire agencies and CAL FIRE will conduct annual training for Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS) personnel in and around Boise, April 25-29. This national training will take place at Gowen Field in Boise.

The training will include eight military C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing. The training includes classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots and support personnel from the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, other federal and state wildland fire agencies.

“The MAFFS program is an important supplement to our national airtanker capacity,” said Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director for operations for the USDA Forest Service. We conduct an annual training and certification exercise to ensure that MAFFS can be integrated into fire suppression operations in a safe, effective and seamless manner, in the event they are needed to assist in 2022.”

“Certification training prepares us so we are ready if the Department of Defense (DoD) is requested to activate to support wildfire suppression efforts this season,” said Lt. Gen Kirk Pierce, commander, U.S. Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH). “Last year, all eight of the Guard and Reserve aircraft activated to Federalized status under AFNORTH and U.S. Northern Command during our second-busiest fire season in 49 years spanning 96 days of U.S. Air Force support.”

First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), U.S. Northern Command’s Air Component Command, is the DoD’s operational lead for the aerial military efforts. The team stands committed to excellence through training and interagency relationships, said Pierce.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft that are part of the program are equipped with the USDA Forest Service’s MAFFS, which can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line. The system slides into the back of the military aircraft, and retardant is released through a nozzle on the rear left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to provide a critical “surge” capability to help slow or stop the spread of wildland fires. MAFFS aircraft are only activated when all commercial airtankers that are part of the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.

As part of the training in Boise, practice water drops will be conducted on some remote portions of the Boise National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands in southwestern Idaho. Residents and visitors in those areas may see low-flying C-130 aircraft and smaller lead planes throughout the week.

Note to news media: An opportunity to interview personnel and observe the training, including a practice water drop, will take place on Wednesday, April 27. If interested, please RSVP to Stanton Florea, NIFC External Affairs, at 208-387-5437.

For more information on the MAFFS program, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/planes/maffs

For background photos and videos of the program, visit: www.dvidshub.net/feature/MAFFSAEG
 Footer Logo
www.nifc.gov
National Interagency Fire Center
3833 S. Development Avenue
Boise, ID 83705-5354(208) 387-5512
              Features
  

        
              NIFC Campus
                NIFC History
                Fire Photos
                Contact Us
              Information
  

        
              Fire Information
                Mobilization Guide
                PIO Bulletin Board
                Red Book
              Social
  

        
              Facebook
                Twitter
                Flickr
                YouTube
                LinkedIn
              About
  

        
              About NIFC
                FAQ
                Map and Directions
                Phone Directory nifc.gov
An official website of the Department of the Interior
      
      About DOI.gov
	Accessibility statement
	FOIA requests
      No FEAR Act data
	Office of the Inspector General
	Budget & performance reports
      Agency financial reports
	Disclaimer
	Privacy policy
      Vulnerability disclosure policy
	Cummings Act notices
      Looking for U.S. government information and services? Visit USA.gov

The National Interagency Fire Center is committed to making its information and communication technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. To meet this commitment, we continue to monitor and update our content to make sure our documents meet these standards.