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'Firenado' caught on camera at Idaho's Soda Fire

By Ben Hooper
A firefighter battling the Soda Fire in Idaho captured footage of this "firenado," or "fire whirl." Craig Fluer/Instagram video screenshot
A firefighter battling the Soda Fire in Idaho captured footage of this "firenado," or "fire whirl." Craig Fluer/Instagram video screenshot

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BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A firefighter battling Idaho's Soda Fire captured footage of a so-called "firenado" shooting flames high into the air.

Craig Fluer, a wild land firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, posted a video to Instagram of the firenado, or "fire whirl," throwing flames 100 feet into the air.

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"Saw a #firewhirl for the first time last night," Fluer wrote. "This sucker was shooting flames 100 ft in the air before it passed right in front of the line, all while dropping hot dirt and ash on our helmets."

Experts said intense heat from large fires can cause the air to rise rapidly, leading to the spinning fire and smoke known as a "firenado" or "fire whirl."

The Soda Fire has burned through more than 280,000 acres since it was first reported Aug. 10. Officials said the fire was 90 percent contained Tuesday.

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