fire-whirl
Spinning column, flames
A fire-whirl is a rotating column of air and flame that forms during intense fires, created when rising heat and turbulent wind conditions combine to produce a vortex.
Also called a fire tornado or fire devil, fire-whirls can range from small spinning flames to towering columns capable of significant destruction: A fire-whirl tore through the burning forest, scattering embers for miles.
Spinning column of fire
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- updraftUpward air movement
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
ignition · combustion · oxidation · burning · ember · smoldering · spotting · flashover
Severe widespread destruction
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- blazeIntense burning fire
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
havoc · ruin · wreckage · calamity · disaster · annihilation · desolation · damage
Rotating, curving movement
- spiralCurve winding around center
- rotationTurning on an axis
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- twisterRotating destructive windstorm
funnel · eddy · gyre · turbulence · whorl · circulation · spinning · column
Source of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- evacuationRemoval from danger
emergency · unpredictable · erratic · escape · alarm · threat · risk · warning
Extremely hot, burning
- searingBrowning with intense heat
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
- incandescenceLight from heated objects
- radiantEmitting light or joy
thermal · temperatures · superheated · white-hot · glowing · char · scorch
firenado
Spinning column of fire
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- updraftUpward air movement
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
wildfire · ignition · combustion · oxidation · burning · ember · smoldering · spotting · flashover · backdraft
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- blazeIntense burning fire
catastrophe · havoc · ruin · wreckage · calamity · disaster · annihilation · desolation · damage · flames
swirl
Rotating, curving movement
- spiralCurve winding around center
- rotationTurning on an axis
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
twister · funnel · eddy · gyre · turbulence · whorl · circulation · spinning · column · spout
hazard
Source of potential harm
evacuation · emergency · unpredictable · erratic · escape · alarm · threat · risk · warning · entrapment
scorching
Extremely hot, burning
- searingBrowning with intense heat
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
- incandescenceLight from heated objects
radiant · thermal · temperatures · superheated · white-hot · glowing · char · scorch
fire-whirlice storm
Freezing rain accumulation
blizzard · polar vortex · freezing rain · cold snap · frost
fire, whirl, fires, fired, firing, fiery, fireman, fireplace, firework