The World’s First Wildfire Tornado Blazed a Path of Destruction Through Australia

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