Pilot of small aircraft aircraft inadvertently entered a restricted area surrounding a forest fire.

Attributes
ACN	219671
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	219671
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I received a WX brief for an IFR flight from bfi to fhr and back earlier that evening, since I had a general idea that the WX was almost 'severe clear' for western wa. Plans were changed to a scenic flight of the olympic mountains and I failed to get a new briefing for this flight due to the great VMC conditions. I saw a small forest fire burning about 15 NM southeast of mt olympus and decided to investigate and report it, in case it had not been reported yet. I called flight watch and reported the position of the fire and that I was circling above it. I was then notified that that location was a restr area by NOTAM to 12000 ft MSL and 5 mi radius about the 255 degree radial, 41 NM DME fix off of sea VORTAC. I then apologized to the gentleman operating seattle efas and exited the area. Even though I was trying to do a 'good deed,' I violated a restr area. To prevent this in the future, a thorough preflight briefing should be obtained including all NOTAMS: D, left, and fdc. I've learned my lesson with respect to NOTAMS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ACFT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A RESTRICTED AREA SURROUNDING A FOREST FIRE.

Narrative: I RECEIVED A WX BRIEF FOR AN IFR FLT FROM BFI TO FHR AND BACK EARLIER THAT EVENING, SINCE I HAD A GENERAL IDEA THAT THE WX WAS ALMOST 'SEVERE CLR' FOR WESTERN WA. PLANS WERE CHANGED TO A SCENIC FLT OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS AND I FAILED TO GET A NEW BRIEFING FOR THIS FLT DUE TO THE GREAT VMC CONDITIONS. I SAW A SMALL FOREST FIRE BURNING ABOUT 15 NM SE OF MT OLYMPUS AND DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE AND RPT IT, IN CASE IT HAD NOT BEEN RPTED YET. I CALLED FLT WATCH AND RPTED THE POS OF THE FIRE AND THAT I WAS CIRCLING ABOVE IT. I WAS THEN NOTIFIED THAT THAT LOCATION WAS A RESTR AREA BY NOTAM TO 12000 FT MSL AND 5 MI RADIUS ABOUT THE 255 DEG RADIAL, 41 NM DME FIX OFF OF SEA VORTAC. I THEN APOLOGIZED TO THE GENTLEMAN OPERATING SEATTLE EFAS AND EXITED THE AREA. EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO DO A 'GOOD DEED,' I VIOLATED A RESTR AREA. TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE, A THOROUGH PREFLT BRIEFING SHOULD BE OBTAINED INCLUDING ALL NOTAMS: D, L, AND FDC. I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON WITH RESPECT TO NOTAMS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.