fire whirl

American  

[fahyuhr wurl, hwurl] / ˈfaɪər ˌwɜrl, ˌʰwɜrl /

noun

Meteorology.

1. a tornadolike phenomenon created when turbulent air rapidly rising from the site of burning, as in a forest fire, sucks flaming gases, embers, and other fiery debris up into a twisting column, sometimes hundreds of feet in height.

   The fire whirl seen in this video occurred during a fire that has claimed 1,200 acres south of the dam.

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Etymology

Origin of fire whirl

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fire whirl

As a result, the fire whirl consumed oil more rapidly while producing significantly less pollution.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026

A fire whirl — sometimes called a fire tornado — is a “spinning column of fire” that forms when intense heat and turbulent winds combine, according to the National Park Service.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 31, 2023

The fire whirl, sometimes called a fire tornado, and short-range spotting were the result of “dry, receptive fuels and erratic winds from intense surface heating,” the Fire Department’s Air Operations Section said in a tweet.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2022

On Sunday, the National Weather Service tweeted a video of a fire tornado, or "fire whirl," from San Diego County's 1,500-acre Chaparral Fire.

From Fox News ● Aug. 30, 2021

Residences are widely scattered in the area, which was torched just two years ago by the deadly Carr Fire - infamously remembered for producing a huge tornado-like fire whirl.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 29, 2020