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A fire whirl or fire devil (sometimes referred to as a fire tornado) is a whirlwind induced by a fire and often (at least partially) composed of flame or ash. These start with a whirl of wind, often made visible by smoke, and may occur when intense rising heat and turbulent wind conditions combine to form whirling eddies of air.
- Worldwide (most frequent in areas subject to wildfires)
- All year (most frequent in dry season)
- Wind damage, burning, propagation/intensification of fires
Aug 1, 2018 · A fire whirl, also known as a fire tornado or a fire devil, is a column of superheated air that spins around a fire. It can form when high temperatures and hot air from the fire combine with ambient air. The Carr Fire vortex, the largest of 17 major wildfires burning across California, was a rare and terrifying example of a fire whirl that reached up to 18,000 feet high and lasted for almost an hour.
Aug 16, 2020 · Aug. 15, 2020, 8:45 PM PDT. By Alicia Victoria Lozano. A rare, fiery tornado was spotted in California on Saturday near the Nevada border where a large wildfire and excessive temperatures created a...
- 2 min
- Alicia Victoria Lozano
May 16, 2014 · California's wildfires have spawned a number of dramatic fire whirls, also known as fire devils, fire tornadoes or "firenadoes." What is a fire tornado, and how dangerous are they?
- 45 sec
A firenado is a spinning column of fire and air that can spread flames and embers over long distances. Learn how firenados form, how dangerous they can be, and how climate change may increase their frequency.
- Jake Buehler
Aug 23, 2023 · A fire whirl, or fire tornado, is a giant vortex of gas and flame caused by extreme fire intensity and low humidity. The B.C. Wildfire Service says it was seen over Gun Lake north of Pemberton, B.C., on Aug. 18.
- 34 sec
Sep 2, 2021 · Learn the difference between fire whirls and fire tornados, two rare but dangerous phenomena that occur when two of nature's deadliest forces combine: fire and wind. Watch a 10-minute video from PBS Weathered that explains the latest science and the surprising ability of burnt forests to store carbon and mitigate climate change.
