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

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

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 Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2020

The fire grew so intense that at one point it created its own weather systems, including a tornado-like fire whirl.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2018

The fire whirl was so intense that it appeared to blow down large trees and strip tiles off roofs in areas that were untouched by fire damage.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2018