The fire tornado is one of nature’s most impressive and terrifying examples of fluid dynamics. Although they are relatively common phenomena, it’s rare to get such a clear glimpse of them since they usually occur in the midst of giant wildfires. The fire tornado is driven by a combination of updraft from the fire and rotation from the surrounding flow. Take a look at how they form:
There are artificial fire tornadoes as well, including homemade ones. That said, please do not try this at home without full safety measures and extreme caution. In general, watching YouTube videos is a much safer way to enjoy this phenomenon. (Video credit: C. Tangey; h/t to Flow Visualization)