Incredible video shows a FIRE TORNADO form outside Los Angeles: Over 200 firefighters are battling brand new Sam Fire that started Wednesday and has already burned 150 acres
- The Sam Fire broke in northwestern LA County around 5pm Wednesday
- The blaze spun in a twister-like windstorm as it moved through hilly, open terrain
- By 6.15pm fire crews declared it a second-alarm blaze spanning 148 acres
- Firefighters say the blaze is 60% contained and they are ‘making good progress’
- Crews will remain on scene throughout the night to extinguish any hot spots
Firefighters are battling a fast moving ‘fire tornado’ that spanned nearly 150 acres in northwestern Los Angeles county.
Incredible video shows the massive blaze spinning in a twister-like windstorm as it moves through the hilly, open California terrain early Wednesday evening.
More than 200 first responders were called to fight the raging flames and are said to be ‘making good progress.’
It is unknown what sparked the blaze, however so-called ‘firenadoes’ typically occur when extreme rising heat meets turbulent wind conditions.
Firefighters are battling a fast moving ‘fire tornado’ that spanned more than 150 acres in northwestern Los Angeles county
Incredible video shows the massive blaze spinning in a twister-like windstorm as it moves through the hilly, open California terrain on Wednesday evening
The second-alarm Sam Fire broke out in Gorman, near Old Ridge Route and Lancaster Road, around 5pm Wednesday.
By 6.15pm the blaze had grown to 148 acres, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station confirmed on Twitter. Officials had the fire 60 percent contained by 8.15pm.
Water drops were used to extinguish much of the flames, but footage showed a large amount of smoke billowing over the area.
The fire didn’t threaten any structures, but officials did have to close a portion of Highway 138 due to the inferno.
Fire crews will remain on scene throughout the night to extinguish any hot spots.
LA County Fire Department’s Air Operations Section claims the Sam Fire – which formed a fire whirl or ‘firenado’ – was likely the result of ‘dry, receptive fuels and erratic winds from intense surface heating.’
By 6.15pm the blaze had grown to 148 acres, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station confirmed on Twitter. Officials had the fire 60 percent contained by 8.15pm
Water drops were used to extinguish much of the flames, but footage showed a large amount of smoke billowing over the area
LA County Fire Department’s Air Operations Section claims the Sam Fire – which formed a fire whirl or ‘firenado’ – was likely the result of ‘dry, receptive fuels and erratic winds from intense surface heating’
The Sam Fire comes as California continues to battle the 1,000-acre McKinney Fire, the state’s deadliest and largest wildfire of the year.
The blaze broke out on July 29 in the Klamath National Forest in Northern California.
More than 3,000 fire personnel were assigned to the blaze, which as of Wednesday, was 75 percent contained.
The cause of the massive blaze, which forced thousands to evacuate, remains under Investigation, Cal Fire reported.
The McKinney Fire has claimed the lives four people, injured seven and destroyed 185 residential and commercial buildings.
A portion of Highway 96 still remains closed due to the fire.
The Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources also claimed the fire killed tens of thousands of fish along a 20-mile stretch of the Klamath River.
Officials say the fishe died after debris flow made oxygen levels in the river plummet.
The Sam Fire comes as California continues to battle the 1,000-acre McKinney Fire, the state’s deadliest and largest wildfire of the year. Firefighters are pictured on August 1 searching a property burned by the McKinney Fire
The McKinney Fire broke out on July 29 in the Klamath National Forest in Northern California. The blaze is pictured on July 30
More than 3,000 fire personnel were assigned to the blaze, which as of Wednesday, was 75 percent contained. Damage caused by the McKinney Fire is shown on August 4
Dead fish that are found on a 20-mile stretch of the Klamath River in northern California between Indian Creek and Seiad Creek on August 6. Officials say the McKinney Fire burning in the area killed tens of thousands of fish
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