California Air National Guard sends two planes to fight Colorado fires

Two fire-fighting planes from the California Air National Guard are set to leave Saturday to join the battle against the flames ravaging Colorado.

The two C-130J planes from the 146th Airlift Wing in Port Hueneme will leave from the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station. Thirty personnel will leave with the aircraft.

Each plane can release 3,000 gallons of water or retardant per drop.

Two C-130J planes from the North Carolina Air National Guard have also been ordered to Colorado. The new planes will push to eight the number of C-130J planes fighting the flames.

The cost of the mission will be reimbursed by the federal government, California Gov. Jerry Brown said in announcing the deployment.

In 2008, when brush fires burned 2,000 acres in California, firefighters, engines and aircraft from Colorado came to the state to provide assistance.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: A C-130J in action. Credit: California Air National Guard