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Fire whirls are a rare but potentially catastrophic form of fire. These buoyant fire plumes are columns of ascending air with rotational motion which carry aloft smoke, debris, and flames greatly increasing the rate of fire spread .Fire whirls range from a foot or two in diameter to small tornadoes in size and intensity

Once a fire whirl leaves the influence of the main fire it quickly loses intensity and becomes an ordinary whirlwind

In order for a fire whirl to exist, there must be an organized source of angular momentum, either from wind shear or from the fire's convection column, which in turn creates large swirl velocities as air is entrained into the fire plume

Fire whirls occur most frequently where heavy concentrations of fuels are burning and a large amount of heat is being generated in a small area.

Mechanical forces are often present which serve as triggering mechanisms to start the whirl

.A common area for fire whirls is the lee side of a ridge where the heated air from the fire is sheltered from general winds. Mechanical eddies produced as the wind blows across the ridge can serve as the triggering mechanism to initiate the fire whirl. On flat terrain they tend to occur on the lee side of the fire near the outside edges of the front.

Even in small fires that aren't exhibiting extreme fire behavior, fire whirls can be created by lighting patterns. A rotational motion can be generated when two lines of fire come together, particularly if they approach at right angles. If large fire whirls are created, fire control problems can result.

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Related Questions

Is a fire devil a fire tornado?

Fire devils or fire whirls are sometimes referred to as fire tornadoes, but they are generally not considered true tornadoes.


How much time does a fire tornado last?

Fire whirls will usually last a few seconds to a few minutes.


What are fire tornadoes also called?

They are also called fire whirls. This is the term preferred by scientists as they technically are not tornadoes.


How do fire whirls affect humans lives?

Fire whirls, or fire tornadoes, can have devastating effects on human lives by intensifying wildfires and causing unpredictable fire behavior. They can rapidly spread flames, leading to increased property damage and posing significant threats to safety and health. Additionally, the intense heat and strong winds associated with fire whirls can create hazardous conditions that complicate firefighting efforts. Overall, their occurrence can result in loss of life, displacement, and long-term environmental impacts.


What are conditions for a fire tornado to occur in?

Fire tornadoes, more properly called fire whirls, generally form during very intense fires. Eddies, or weak vortices in the wind, may be caught in the rising air current or updraft of the fire. This causes the eddies to stretch, tighten, and intensify into fairly strong vortices, which then pull in smoke and fire.


What are fire tornadoes?

Fire tornadoes, also called fire whirls or fire devils are vorticies of smoke or flame that can form during very intense fires. These vorticies are technically not tornadoes.


How do fire whirls form and what factors contribute to their creation?

Fire whirls, also known as fire tornadoes, form when intense heat and wind combine to create a spinning vortex of flames. Factors that contribute to their creation include high temperatures, strong winds, and the presence of a fuel source such as vegetation or buildings. The interaction of these elements can lead to the formation of a fire whirl.


Are fire tornadoes real?

Sort of but, they are called fire whirls but technically aren't tornadoes. They form in a way more like dust devils than real tornadoes.


Where do fire tornadoes happen?

"Fire tornadoes," more properly called firewhirls as they are not true tornadoes, can occur in any location that can experience intense fires. They are often observed in California and Australia where giant forest and brush fires are not uncommon.


Is there such thing as a fire tornado and can blow anything up?

There are fire whirls which are sometimes called fire tornadoes even though they technically are not tornadoes. They are whirlwinds made of smoke and/or fire. If they do contain actual fire they could potentially cause an explosion if they came in contact with something explosive just as the case is with any fire.


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What are arches loops and whirls mean in crime investigation?

They are referring to types of finger prints, generally you either have whirls or arches and loops