Fire Tornadoes Captured Breaking Out in California Amid Scorching Heat Wave

A few small fire tornadoes were captured on video during a brush fire in California on Wednesday, as the state faces a wave of high temperatures.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department public information officer Twitter account posted a video on Wednesday that was captured by KTLA showing the fire tornadoes.

"The #RouteFire was balanced to a 2nd alarm fire at approximately 12:32 p.m. No structures threatened at this time," the tweet said.

According to the Library of Congress, a fire tornado or "fire whirl," is defined by the U.S. Forestry Service as a "spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame."

"Fire whirls range in size from less than one foot to more than 500 feet in diameter," according to the U.S Forestry Service.

The videos of the fire tornadoes come as the Route Fire in Los Angeles County continues to grow while temperatures continue to rise in areas near the fire.

According to data from Cal Fire, the Route Fire, which is "near Castaic," has burned over 4,000 acres and is 0 percent contained. In an update posted on InciWeb, the national wildfire incident reporting system, officials said that the fire "started at 12:01 p.m. on August 31, 2022, and is under unified command or jointly managed by LA County Fire Department, the Angeles National Forest, CAL FIRE, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Santa Clarita Station). The California Highway Patrol, CalTrans District 7, and the Red Cross are also assisting with the Route Fire."

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has declared an excessive heat warning as temperatures in the area continue to rise.

"Forecast for the #RouteFire High pressure keeps hot temps, dry air & high mixing heights for the next few days. NW winds increase this evening to 10-18 w gusts to 30 mph at ridgetops. Weather remains hot (107F) & dry thurs w/NW winds, SW after noon," the Los Angeles National Weather Service said in a tweet.

The Red Cross in Los Angeles also posted a tweet on Wednesday, alerting residents of shelters if they are forced to evacuate.

This month, similar videos captured by KTLA showed another fire tornado burning in Los Angeles as a result of the Sam Fire.

"Short range spotting and fire whirls on the #SamFire tell the story of dry, receptive fuels and erratic winds from intense surface heating," the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section said in a tweet on August 11.

Newsweek reached out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for comment.