Firefighters witnessed a rare and dangerous phenomenon known as an ash devil while battling the 19-acre Trinity Fire in Phelan on Friday, officials said.
The vegetation fire ignited about 11:50 a.m. May 1. It spread quickly, threatening nearby homes, before San Bernardino County Fire Department and Cal Fire firefighters managed to stop its forward progress about 1:10 p.m.
With help from water-dropping aircraft, the flames were ultimately controlled without any damage to structures, fire officials said. The cause was not available.
In addition to demonstrating “strong interagency cooperation,” the fire also highlighted a “rare fire phenomenon” called an ash devil, SBCFD spokesman Chris Prater explained.
The unusual fire behavior resembles a dust devil, or tiny tornado, but filled with burning embers and fueld by intense flames.
“Ash devils form when intense heat causes air to rise and spin, pulling ash, embers, and debris into a rotating column,” according to Prater.
“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,” he added.
With summer rapidly approaching and conditions growing drier, Prater reminded High Desert residents to take measures to protect their properties in the case of fire.
“Now is a good time to make sure your home is wildfire ready,” he said. “Create defensible space, clear debris, and harden your home.”
More information on wildfire preparedness and safety can be found on the San Bernardino County Fire Department website at sbcfire.org.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Ash devils: Rare phenomenon caught on camera at Phelan brush fire
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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