Fresno is getting one of Cal Fire’s C-130 Hercules air tankers

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – California is the first state in the United States to own and operate C-130 Hercules air tankers – and Fresno will be one location the special aircraft will be assigned to.

According to an announcement by Cal Fire released Monday, the C-130 Hercules air tankers will help fight wildfires and protect the communities. There will be seven air tankers in Cal Fire’s fleet based at five locations:

• Ramona
• Paso Robles
• Fresno
• Chico
• McClellan

The new air tankers can fly 800 miles with a payload of 4,000 gallons of long-term fire retardant. The C-130 Hercules now has the greatest speed and range of Cal Fire’s airborne fleet, officials say.

“As wildfire frequency and severity increase across California, the introduction of this aircraft will undoubtedly play a crucial role in helping us achieve our initial attack goals, particularly in our efforts to keep 95% of fires at 10 acres or less,” said Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler.

According to Cal Fire, the new air tanker was once used for search and rescue and cargo hauling when it was previously a part of the Coast Guard.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.