California’s latest weapon in the never-ending war against wildfires, a former military plane repurposed to drop fire retardant, has deployed on its first mission in Riverside County.
CAL FIRE’s first operational C-130 Hercules appeared in the sky above San Jacinto on Monday, according to the agency. The massive aircraft, which began service as a U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue and cargo plane, is capable of carrying 4,000 gallons of fire retardant in its tank.
“CAL FIRE’s Tanker 122, our first fully operational C-130H, has successfully completed its inaugural firefighting mission,” CAL FIRE said in a written statement. “This aircraft delivered 8,000 gallons of retardant on the Record Fire in Riverside County, marking a major milestone in our mission to protect California.”
“The C-130H will help provide the crucial support our ground crews need to contain wildfires, protecting communities across the state,” according to the statement. “The addition of this remarkable aircraft to our fleet takes our firefighting capabilities to new heights.”