Here’s What Makes a Firenado Like the One Seen at the Deer Creek Fire

What happens when you combine twisting wind like a tornado and fill it with fire? The answer is a firenado, but that name is somewhat misleading. It would be more accurate to call it a fire devil. 

The Difference Between a Tornado and Dust Devil 

Tornados are created high up in the atmosphere where the air begins to circle until a funnel forms and reaches down to the ground. On the other hand, a dust devil happens when there is hot dry conditions.  

The swirling air begins near the ground and rises in a twisting column taking dust and anything else it can carry high up in the air. In a wildfire, the heat rises and with wind, it begins to twist and rise from the ground carrying the flames with it. 

These fire whirls are somewhat common in wildfires. Every once in a while, a really big one can develop. This was the case with the column of fire recorded during the Deer Creek fire. These can do a lot of damage and the heat given off can be intense. 

Firenados that Develop in the Atmosphere are Rare 

The kind of swirling fire witnessed near Utah doesn’t last long. As the air shifts, the firenado will quickly fall apart. This isn’t the case with the rare destructive force that is being fueled higher up in the atmosphere. 

Read More: Discover How the Dew Point is a Utah Firefighting Secret Weapon

The one most people remember that brought this weather phenomenon to the fore front happened in California in 2018 during the Carr Fire. That one reached 18,000 feet and it was driven by the clouds above it. 

If you would like to see the basics of how one of these whirling demons form you can check out the video above. They even show it in slow motion.