A swirling fire vortex captured on video Friday amidst the flames of a fierce wildfire in Pacific Palisades resembles a tornado. However, scientists are investigating whether this phenomenon is a rare fire tornado or something more typical called a “fire whirl.”

The footage reveals a tall, narrow column of flames encircled by a smoke cloud, rotating on a hillside within the Pacific Palisades fire, which has devastated over 23,000 acres in Los Angeles County, marking it as the most destructive fire in the region’s history. This blaze is part of a series of fires that have scorched more than 40,000 acres around Los Angeles in just a week, demolishing various communities.

Though the blaze may appear tornado-like, Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, informed YSL News that it likely exemplifies a fire whirl, which is “more similar to a dust devil than a tornado” and is typically less devastating.

“They can form briefly along the fiery edge of wildfires that are burning intensely, especially when fires consume dense vegetation or move upward,” Swain stated.

What causes fire whirls?

Fire whirls occur when winds interact with the updraft of superheated air generated by the flames. This interaction can lead to a spinning motion as the new air inducts. According to Swain, these whirls are quite common and arise in most large-scale wildfires, although they’re much less hazardous than true fire tornadoes, which can cause significant destruction.

What triggers fire tornadoes?

Fire tornadoes develop when strong winds merge with atmospheric conditions that create plumes of smoke reaching elevations of 20,000 to 40,000 feet. Swain explains that these clouds can form whirlwinds of superheated gases and generate winds exceeding 100 mph.

Susan Buchanan, a representative for the National Weather Service, mentioned that while the agency does not maintain regular statistics on fire tornadoes, these events tend to occur during severe wildfires and pose serious hazards for firefighters trying to manage them.