California’s largest wildfire spawned dangerous natural phenomena known as fire whirls as it grew to more than 77,000 acres on the state’s border with Nevada.
The York Fire started Friday in the remote Caruthers Canyon area of California’s Mojave National Preserve, more than 200 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and crossed into Nevada during days of unrelenting extreme heat in San Bernardino County, in southern california.
Strong winds fanned the flames and pushed smoke into the Las Vegas Valley, blowing up a haze that blotted out the sun in the area.
There is no containment.
On Sunday, firefighters reported spectacular fire swirlsbut dangerous, on the north flank of the York fire.
Photos posted on the Mojave National Preserve Facebook page they showed what looked like a tornado landing, but the cloud of smoke and flames was rising from the desert floor.
Also known as a fire tornado and taking the appearance of swirling dust, fire swirls form a rotating column of fire generated by extreme heat and wind, the National Park Service said.
The whirlwind of smoke and fire can grow to several hundred feet in height with significant rotation speeds.
“While these can be fascinating to watch, they are a very dangerous natural phenomenon that can occur during wildfires,” the park service wrote.
The eddies formed during triple-digit heat that has gripped the West for days.
Blown by strong winds, the spinning columns can spread embers long distances creating pockets of fire that breach containment lines and ignite new fires.
Eddies can also change direction suddenly, a natural nightmare for firefighters as they try to stop the spread of fires.
“This weather is extremely dangerous for firefighters fighting the fires,” according to the Mojave National Preserve post.
Details about the cause of the York fire were not immediately available. The fire started on private land within the nature reserve.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station, NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.