'Firenado' caught on camera during Missouri wildfire

KANSS CITY, Mo., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Firefighters battling a massive wildfire in Missouri captured video of a "firenado," or fire tornado, blowing flames into the sky.

The Southern Platte Fire Protection District, one of several agencies battling the wildfire Thursday in Platte County, just north of Kansas City, posted a video to Facebook showing the firenado, also known as a fire whirl, spinning flames high into the sky.

"Oh, that's freakin' awesome," a firefighter can be heard saying in the video.

Authorities said the wildfire, which spread across more than 1,300 acres, was started by sparks that shot from a malfunctioning prison lawnmower near the Centennial Bridge.

No injuries were reported from the wildfire and SPFPD Fire Chief Rich Carrizzo tweeted late Thursday that the fire had been brought under control.