A Southern California flight instructor and father of three was killed when his single-engine plane went down near Ridgecrest, and investigators are now looking at the wreckage as a possible ignition point for the Canyon Fire. The fast-moving blaze has burned about 2,000 acres in the El Paso Mountains south of Ridgecrest, triggered an immediate response from air tankers and helicopters, and kept fire crews scrambling to hold the line. While family members have identified the pilot and launched a fundraising effort, officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Canyon Fire was first reported on May 7 near the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 178 and grew to roughly 2,000 acres within hours, with little containment, according to The Sacramento Bee. Crews faced steep terrain and hot, dry conditions as both aircraft and ground resources were rushed in to attack the flames. Investigators quickly began focusing on the fire’s origin point.
Plane Tracking and Registration
Flight-tracking and registration records identify…..