Fire tornado seen over Gun Lake in B.C.

Fire whirls are one of the most striking — and misunderstood — behaviours we see on the fire line. In this clip, our crew captured a fire whirl forming during active suppression. While it may look like a “fire tornado,” it’s actually a rapid column of rising hot air that begins to rotate when the surrounding winds shift and align in just the right way. These whirls can intensify flame behaviour within seconds, throwing embers further and increasing the rate of spread. They’re unpredictable, fast

🌪️🔥 Caught on Camera: The Rare "Fire Whirl" Check out this incredible footage captured by one of our wildland firefighters! 🎥🔥 They witnessed one of the most fascinating—and dangerous—phenomena on the fireline: a Fire Whirl. Also known as a "smoke tornado" or "smokenado," this isn't your average gust of wind. Here is the science behind the spin: 🌪️ How it forms: Intense heat from the wildfire creates powerful updrafts of hot air. When atmospheric winds hit these updrafts just right, it caus

Fire tornado tears through forest in Utah