fire whirl

[ fahyuhr wurl, hwurl ]

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: Compare fire tornado ( def ).

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fire whirl¹

First recorded in 1950–55