A wildfire in Southern California caused a “rare” phenomenon called ash devils to spin over firefighters on Friday, May 1, according to fire officials.
Footage posted by San Bernardino County Fire shows the ash devils spinning near the site of the Trinity Fire in Phelan, California, on Friday, as crews battled the blaze.
“Ash devils form when intense heat causes air to rise and spin, pulling ash, embers, and debris into a rotating column,” the agency said. “Ash devils can create serious challenges on the fireline by spreading embers and igniting spot fires in multiple directions, causing unpredictable wind shifts, and reducing visibility for crews working nearby.”
The Trinity Fire was contained at 18.6 acres with no reported structure damage, officials said. Credit: San Bernardino County Fire via Storyful