Weather Event Template

Extreme Weather

Fire whirl

index

6. Measurement

1. Definition

7. Preparation

2. History

8. Video

3. Formation

9. Interesting Facts

4. Pictures

5. Locations

10. References

Definition

A fire whirl, also commonly known as a fire devil, or, as a fire tornado, firenado, fire swirl, or fire twister, is a whirlwind induced by a fire and often (at least partially) composed of flame or ash. 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. These eddies can contract a tornado-like vortex that sucks in debris and combustible gases.

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Timeline

1923

an earthquake ignited flames in Tokyo, leading to what was likely the most destructive fire whirl on record.

1926

April 7, 1926, California — Lightning striking tanks at a tank farm

2018

1,000-foot-diameter swirling fire vortex was caught on video during California’s Carr wildfire. According to researchers, this whirl had winds of around 143 miles per hour and reached temperatures up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit

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Formation

Fire whirls occur when a wildfire, or especially firestorm, creates its own wind, which can spawn large vortices. Even bonfires often have whirls on a smaller scale and tiny fire whirls have been generated by very small fires in laboratories.

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What do they look like?

This is a fire whirl in action

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Where do they occur?

We don't have much fire whirls because we don't have many wildfires and fire whirls happen most in wild fires

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How are they measured?

Fire whirls are not measured because it isn't practical to do so

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How can you prepare?

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02

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avoid powerlines and trees

If you encounter a fire whirl run. You could fuel it more

stay away from areas reported to have of fire whirls

pay attention to warning signs

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See It In Action

skip to 2:24

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Interesting Facts

A fire whirl can reach up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit

the fire whirl in Tokyo 1923 killed 38,000 people in just 15 min

fire whirls also run on carbon dioxide so being near it will strengthen the fire whirl!

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References:

• https://skybrary.aero/articles/fire-whirl
• https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/meteorology-climatology/item/can-a-tornado-be-made-out-of-fire/#:~:text=April%207%2C%201926%2C%20California%20%E2%80%94,fire%20whirls%20and%20their%20formation.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/spinning-fire-whirls-tear-through-the-mojave-desert-amid-californias-largest-wildfire-this-year-180982645/#:~:text=In%201923%2C%20an%20earthquake%20ignited,in%20less%20than%2015%20minutes.

• https://skybrary.aero/articles/fire-whirl#:~:text=Fire%20whirls%20occur%20when%20a,whirls%20are%20spawned%20from%20wildfires.

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