Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today welcomed the U.S. Forest Service’s mobilization of two Department of Defense C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, known as MAFFS, to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Colorado. The planes will be based in Colorado Springs and will begin flying fire suppression missions as soon as safe and effective operations can be established.

“With multiple wildfires burning across Colorado, these air tankers will help devote resources and manpower where they are needed most,” Bennet said. “Hot and dry conditions are dramatically increasing the risk for aggressive wildfires in Colorado and throughout the West, and we need to be ready to mobilize our firefighters, first responders and resources at a moment’s notice.”

Bennet has worked tirelessly to bring critical federal resources to Colorado to help combat wildfires and to clean up the devastation left behind. Bennet has called for the modernization of our air tanker fleet and supported a bill allowing the Forest Service to operate up to seven more tankers. Following last year’s wildfires, Bennet led efforts to secure Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) resources to help Colorado communities recover from the Waldo Canyon and High Park fires.