571. Very Turbulent Flight to Check the Results of the Stump Lake Area Fire. Jun 18, 2026

By Jan Nademlejnsky | Jun 21, 2026
RSS

I flew out to assess the fire damage shortly after the crews extinguished it. This area is normally stunning, especially now with everything so green and full of life. I took off early hoping to avoid turbulence, but the air was rough and twice I was lifted from my seat by sudden jolts. From the air the burn zone looks small, though the water bombers worked for hours to contain it. You could clearly see how close it came to the nearby homes.