Rare Firenado Forms During Utah Wildfire, Causing Significant Damage

Over the weekend, an intense wildfire in eastern Utah produced a rare phenomenon known as a “firenado.” This swirling column of fire and hot gases caused severe damage to a home and outbuildings in the affected area.

The Deer Creek Fire, which had already scorched thousands of acres near La Sal on Saturday, generated a fire vortex that spun in the woodland surrounding the neighborhood. Officials from the Utah Bureau of Land Management captured images of this unusual event, showing a fire tornado tearing through pinyon-juniper trees.

According to the National Weather Service, wind speeds within the firenado reached up to 122 mph, classifying it as an EF-2 tornado. Remarkably, unlike typical tornadoes that usually last only seconds or minutes as they race across terrain, this firenado remained nearly stationary for about 12 minutes, swirling intensely in one location.

Damage assessments indicated that many structures in the area suffered both fire and wind destruction. Some buildings burned after the tornado had passed, while others sustained wind damage, leading to the EF-2 classification. Fortunately, residents had already evacuated with the wildfire approaching, and no injuries were reported.

Firenados are spinning columns of hot air and gases that lift smoke, debris, and flames into the vortex. These phenomena can vary vastly in size, from less than a foot to over 500 feet wide. Larger fire whirls can reach tornado strength, as demonstrated by the one in Utah.

One of the most destructive fire whirls in history occurred during the 2018 Carr Fire in California, with wind speeds of 143 mph—comparable to EF-3 tornadoes. Such fire-induced twisters are extremely rare in Utah; the firenado in this incident was only the second to receive an EF-2 rating since 2007.

Meanwhile, firefighters continue efforts to contain the Deer Creek Fire, which has burned over 15,600 acres and is about 7% contained. Multiple large wildfires are burning across Utah, collectively scorching more than 60,000 acres this summer.