Carr fire tornado: Watch incredible footage of firenado as it RIPS through California
RESIDENTS were left terrified as they watched a cyclone of flames tear through a town currently battling deadly wildfires. Here is incredible footage of the firenado as it rips through California.
California: Carr Fire smoke creates a rotational updraft
The Carr fire has burned nearly 104,000 acres (42,000 hectares) since July 23, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
At least six people, including two firefighters have died.
Thousands of people have also lost their homes.
The Cal Fire website has said “mechanical failure of vehicle” is the cause of the deadly infernos.
They are similar to a whirlwind and occur when hot, dry air rises quickly from the ground.
This then forms a vertical column until it reaches cooler air higher up in the atmosphere.
As more flames and hot air get pulled into the column, it starts to swirl into a vortex which pulls burning embers, hot gases and debris with it.
This creates a dangerous tower of flames.
Most firenadoes are a few hundred feet high and last minutes or even seconds.
But the fire near Redding reached a colossal 18,000 feet (550 metres) and lasted nearly an hour, according to California's KQED TV station.