This is the summer of the firenado

'Firenado' spotted in Derbyshire by firefighters

'Firenado' spotted in Derbyshire by firefighters Watch this video on YouTube. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue captured this firenado footage in Derbyshire at a plastics factory fire. Via The Guardian Firefighters…

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue captured this firenado footage in Derbyshire at a plastics factory fire. Via The Guardian

Firefighters captured spectacular footage of an unusual occurrence while tackling a plastic pallet blaze at the Ravensbourn plastics factory in Woodville, near Swadlincote. Fire tornadoes – also known as fire whirls – happen when cool air combines with hot air above to create a swirling effect.

The California wildfires have been creating firenadoes on a massive scale, with strengths similar to EF-3 tornadoes:

Fire Whirl In Carr Fire Equal To EF-3 Tornado

Here's a good explainer of the phenomenon:

How A 'Firenado' Forms

'Firenado' spotted in Derbyshire by firefighters (YouTube / Guardian News)