• MAFFS crews eager to fight fire another day

    A heavy smell of smoke and a thick haze greeted members of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron as they arrived on the flightline during the early morning June 27 here to prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s for another day of aerial fire-fighting. The day before saw

  • Firework shows canceled for the Fourth of July

    Due to high heat and dry conditions, Jefferson and Douglas Counties have banned all professional firework shows for the Fourth of July Independence Day celebration. With about ten fires burning throughout Colorado, many counties have voluntarily canceled their firework shows. The normal festivities

  • Air Force firefighters taking fight to Colorado Springs wildfire

    Air Force Space Command photographer SSgt. Christopher Boitz embedded with firefighters Thursday on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy as they worked to fight the Waldo Canyon Fire. The wild fire started on Saturday, June 23 in Waldo Canyon, close to Manitou Springs, Colo. and has burned

  • Academy residents return home, operations return to normal

    More than 2,100 Airmen and their families who had to evacuate their homes at the U.S. Air Force Academy due to the Waldo Canyon fire were allowed to return as of 5 a.m. June 29.With the fire contained after burning about 10 acres of land on the installation, Academy leaders determined it was safe

  • Firefighters make progress on Academy blaze

    The Waldo Canyon fire that has grown to 18,500 acres and burned hundreds of homes here has been contained on the southwestern corner of the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 28.The fire had burned about 10 acres of land on the Academy in the early morning of June 27, but firefighters on scene have

  • Vandenberg 'Hot Shots' arrive to fight Colorado Springs fire

    A C-17 Globemaster III from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., arrives at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., June 27 carrying members of the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots specialized fire fighting team. The specialized team, the only of its kind in DoD, is in Colorado Springs helping the

  • Firefighters continue to battle Colorado Springs blaze

    Firefighters continued to battle several fires that burned into the evening hours in Waldo Canyon near here June 27.The fires, which have burned more than 15,000 acres, began spreading to the southwestern corner of the Academy in the early morning, causing base officials to evacuate residents, with

  • Vandenberg sends hot shots to Colorado wildfire front lines

    Vandenberg Air Force Base officials deployed the only Defense Department wildland fire-fighting asset at 2 p.m. June 27 in support of the wildland fire- fighting efforts in Colorado Springs, Colo.The 18-member Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shot crew, along with two hot shots crew carrier vehicles,

  • Wildland fire fight presents operational, personal challenges

    The flightline here roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado.The scene was reminiscent of a NASCAR pit with aircraft landing and refueling quickly before taking flight.Today began the first full

  • Luke reservist one of Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen

    It's been said lightning only strikes once, but that's not true for Luke. For the second time in three years, a base Airman has been named an Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year.Master Sgt. Sandra Plentzas, 944th Fighter Wing Chapel superintendent, was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding