Scientists at NASA are chasing clouds that wildfires build for themselves. The formations, known as pyrocumulonimbus, appear when smoke from a large fire climbs high into the atmosphere. They can produce lightning and sudden rain, which sometimes starts new fires far away. The work matters because such storms can push soot into the upper air. A research team now flies aircraft straight into the smoke to collect samples.
A wildfire in Utah produced such clouds on 2 August 2026. Lightning had started the blaze on 27 July, yet it stayed small for almost a week. Hot, dry air then let the flames spread with alarming speed. On 3 August a plane crossed the plume and gathered material about 12 kilometres above the ground. Pilots plan each pass carefully to avoid the strongest turbulence. The measurements should show how these towering clouds change weather and air quality.