Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 22000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Other / Unknown
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Aircraft
I got a weather briefing via DUAT's before I left for the airport. I also updated my iPad WingXPro7 moving map software with the latest weather. I missed the TFR's in the Lake Isabella area. I was relying on my moving map software that puts the TFR's on the map. We did some sightseeing in the Bakersfield area and then started to head for L05. We saw smoke north of 62CL and we started to climb above 5;500 FT to get a better view so we could report fire. As we got closer we saw helicopters dumping water. I turned away from smoke and continued to climb. I would estimate the helicopters were at least 3;000 FT below us. When we landed at L05 I updated my moving map software again and still no TFR's. I called FSS on my cell phone to confirm TFR's and they gave us 2 in our area. We then mapped out TFR's before our return trip. I should have read my DUAT's briefing more thoroughly.
C172 pilot reports inadvertent entry into a fire fighting TFR when he fails to see the NOTAM in the list provided by DUAT's. His iPad with WingXPro also failed to display the TFR both before and after the event.