A fire tornado, however, picks up burning embers, ash, flaming-hot gases and flammable debris, creating a terrifying tower of flame that can extend hundreds of feet into the air. The Difference Between Fire Tornadoes and Fire Whirls. What causes tornadoes? The scientific phenomenon can form from extreme temperatures like the ones northern California is experiencing from the wildfires. When the hot air rises above the fire, more fresh, oxygenated air rushes in. The fire tornado forms in a wildfire when the atmospheric conditions (wind speed, air temperature, and humidity) are conducive to creating a tornado. Within the supercell, there is an air vortex known as a mesocyclone. Technically, a type of thunderstorm known as supercells is what leads to the development of a tornado (including the most powerful tornadoes). The column of air above the fire can then start to rotate much like a tornado. Tornadoes closely resemble gustnadoes, dust devils, fire whirls, and steam devils. The burning twister is usually made up of ash and flame, or just ash, or just flame. A fire tornado generates so much heat that it forms an actual tornado. While both fire whirls and fire tornadoes start with strong updrafts from the fire and inflows from the fire itself, the difference is intensity and size. A fire tornado, also known by other names, including fire whirl, fire swirl, fire twister, fire devil, and my personal favorite — firenado, is a phenomenon that often occurs during large fires. The most violent tornadoes come from supercells, large thunderstorms that have winds already in rotation. Either are fire tornadoes, which can spawn from wildfires. Fire tornadoes can cause a wildfire to spread more rapidly. Formation of a Tornado. The fire tornado’s path is generally unpredictable. A fire tornado, also known as a fire devil or a fire whirl, is a rare type of tornado. What is a fire tornado? While fire tornadoes are rare they aren't completely unheard of, especially on the West Coast.