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The Conversation
The Conversation
Kyle Hilburn, Research Scientist in Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University

Wildfires can create their own weather, including tornado-like fire whirls − an atmospheric scientist explains how

A huge pyrocumulus cloud rises over the Park Fire near Chico, Calif., on July 26, 2024. David McNew/Getty Images

Wildfire blowups, fire whirls, towering thunderstorms: When fires get large and hot enough, they can actually create their own weather.

In these extreme fire situations, firefighters’ ordinary methods to directly control the fire don’t work, and wildfires burn out of control. Firefighters have seen many of these risks in the enormous Park Fire burning near Chico, California, and other wildfires in summer 2024.

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