Wildfires have caused fire tornadoes in California that rose to a height of several tens of meters.
Tornadoes of fire raged in the city of Chico in California, USA, on Thursday evening.
Wildfires had started in the forest area north of Chico. The smoke from the fires had risen to a height of several tens of meters.
University of California Climate Scientist Daniel Swain reported the local media For SFGate, that fire tornadoes are not unusual. According to him, large wildfires can cause eddies as strong as tornadoes under certain conditions.
CNN says that fire tornadoes, i.e. fire vortices, are created when overheated air in the fire area rises quickly. The air rotates like a tornado or dust vortex and accelerates into an air column consisting of fire.
Chico is located in Butte County, which has been declared a state of emergency due to wildfires CBS News by. There have been several evacuations in the area.
The fire is suspected to have been caused by arson. Several homes have been destroyed in the fire.