A terrifying “firenado” was spotted amid the Palisades Fire in the Los Angeles area of California on Friday night. The phenomenon, captured on camera, has since gone viral on social media, sending shockwaves through viewers as the swirling vortex of fire and smoke became visible.
What is a Firenado?
A firenado is a fire whirl – a spinning column of hot air and gases that rises from a blaze. As the hot air and gases are carried upwards, they also transport smoke, debris, and flames. The result is a terrifying vortex, often resembling a tornado, but fueled by fire.
These fire whirls can range in size from under one foot to over 500 feet wide, with larger ones capable of wind speeds matching that of small tornadoes. The US Forest Service has reported that some of the most powerful fire whirls have been strong enough to uproot trees, topple vehicles, and tear roofs off homes.
The Power of Firenadoes
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), some recent fire whirls have been incredibly destructive. A major example occurred during the 2018 Carr Fire at Redding, California, where a fire whirl had wind speeds up to 143 mph, equivalent to those found in EF-3 tornadoes.
One of the most destructive fire whirls in history took place in Tokyo in 1923. The whirl was caused by fires ignited by a powerful earthquake. In less than 15 minutes, it claimed the lives of around 38,000 people, making it one of the deadliest fire-related phenomena on record.
A Rare and Terrifying Event
While firenadoes are rare, they are still a significant threat in wildfire-prone areas like California. The Palisades Fire, which continues to burn in the Los Angeles area, has brought attention to these deadly fire whirls as the state struggles to manage increasingly extreme fire seasons.
As the video of the firenado continues to circulate on social media, fire experts are emphasizing the need for awareness about the dangers of fire whirls and the importance of evacuations and safety measures when they are detected near large fires.
Authorities have urged residents and viewers to stay away from the area and follow official evacuation orders to avoid any potential harm from this fire-driven phenomenon.
Sources By Agencies
