Senators request more aircraft at Nevada base to fight wildfires

U.S. Senators from California and Nevada are requesting the U.S. Air Force to upgrade the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno with eight new aircraft.

Upgrading the Nevada Air National Guard’s C-130J fleet would help improve the Nevada Air National Guard’s ability to fight wildfires in Nevada and California.

“The decision to upgrade the Nevada Air National Guard’s C-130H fleet would have a substantial impact on the Nevada Air National Guard’s readiness and firefighting capabilities in both Nevada and California,” Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) wrote in a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett.

New C-130J aircraft would help deploy the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) in support of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

“As devastating wildfires become more common occurrences in Nevada, California, and the western United States, it is critical to have support across states for these firefighting missions. Additionally, as the chief of the U.S. Forest Service Vicki Christiansen said this June, the threat of wildfire is no longer confined to a “fire season,” but persistent and year-round,” the Senators wrote. “Ensuring that the National Guard is ready to assist the response to these emergencies in a swift and effective manner should be a priority for the Air Force as it considers where to send the new aircraft. The 152nd AW has dispatched specially equipped aircraft to serve these missions in the past and is ready to improve its capabilities with C-130J aircraft.”