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Air Force joins Colorado firefighting effort

The Air Force is helping the fire fight in Colorado. At the same time, it had to evacuate 550 cadets from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs because of a...

Federal News Network Staff

June 28, 2012 10:30 am

< a min read

The Air Force is helping the fire fight in Colorado. At the same time, it had to evacuate 550 cadets from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs because of approaching flames.

NextGov reported federal fire officials have enlisted four C-130 transport planes. Each one can spray thousands of gallons of fire retardant in a matter of seconds. Each plane is equipped with pressurized canisters on pallets. That means crews can quickly reload them after they land. The planes come from the 302nd and 153rd Airlift Wings.

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