Following the incidents in Alvite, another destructive blaze of flames was documented in Covilhã.
Fire Whirls Spotted in Portugal: A Potent Danger in Forest Fires
A series of fire whirls have been observed in forest fires in Portugal, most recently in the villages of Covilhã and Alvite. These phenomena, caused by a combination of extreme heat, strong winds, and specific terrain conditions, are a potent danger due to their short lifespan and disruptive effects on firefighting efforts.
The video of the fire whirl in Covilhã, shared by the page 'Soldiers of Peace', was not classified as a tornado by the Portuguese Institute of Meteorology and Earth Sciences (IPMA). However, Paulo Narciso, an expert from IPMA, explained that a fire whirl is caused by high temperatures and surface winds. The column of air in the Alvite whirl was similar to a tornado, but it was not classified as such.
The video of the fire whirl in Covilhã was captured in the village of Casal de Santa Teresinha, after an impressive fire in Alvite, Moimenta da Beira, over the last weekend. The whirl in Alvite was visible at night due to the contrast of the ascending current and a small dimension vortex.
In forest fires, conditions potentiated by the fire itself can lead to the occurrence of fire whirls. Differentiated temperature heatings create strong ascending currents with a sudden change in wind. Proximity to the fire is required to study these phenomena due to their short duration.
According to Paulo Narciso, these fire whirls can reach temperatures "in the order of thousands of degrees." The danger associated with these phenomena is great due to their short lifespan, making them difficult to predict and control.
Paulo Narciso mentioned that similar phenomena occurred during the great fires of Pedrógão Grande in 2017. He explained that these fire whirls can be observed by the matter transported, such as flames, dust, and debris. The recording of the whirl in Alvite provides evidence of its existence and the need for more study in risk situations.
Although fire whirls are not common in every wildfire, they tend to form in conditions of extreme heat, dry vegetation, and strong winds, such as during unusually hot and dry summers. Precise statistics on their frequency are less commonly available, but recent events near Spain’s UNESCO-listed national park illustrate that fire whirls can emerge suddenly and strongly disrupt fire control efforts.
Watch the video of the fire whirl in Covilhã here
[1] Fire Whirls: A Dangerous Phenomenon in Forest Fires [2] Understanding Fire Whirls: Causes, Risks, and Mitigation Strategies
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