But Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, told USA TODAY that it instead appears to be an example of a fire whirl, which is “more akin to a dust devil than a tornado” and is less severe.

Fire devils or "firenados" are not really tornadoes at all. A tornado forms downwards from ... actually has more in common with a whirlwind or dust devil, as they form from the ground upwards.

Firenados are similar to dust devils, but with fire instead of dust ... This is a "firenado," or fire tornado. It formed out of wildfires in Arganil, Portugal. Firenados are swirling columns ...

Fire whirl, fire devil, fire tornado or even firenado — scientists, firefighters and regular folks use multiple terms to describe similar phenomena, and they don’t always agree on what’s what.

Fire whirl, fire devil, fire tornado or even firenado — scientists, firefighters and regular folks use multiple terms to describe similar phenomena, and they don’t always agree on what’s what.

Disabled Eaton Fire victim escaped deadly flames in wheelchair A look at fire tornadoes: Fire whirl, fire devil, fire tornado or even firenado — scientists, firefighters and regular folks use multiple ...