"A massive wildfire in Northern California spawned rotating columns of flames Saturday, prompting forecasters to issue a rare fire-related tornado warning.
“It was a first for us,” said Shane Snyder, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno, which issued the warning shortly before 3 p.m.
Multiple videos posted to social media showed twister-like formations in the path of the Loyalton fire, which started Friday evening in the Tahoe National Forest near California’s border with Nevada. The fire quickly grew to 20,000 acres and was 0% contained as of Sunday morning. Authorities were performing updated flight mapping and expected the acreage to rise, said Joe Flannery, public affairs officer for the national forest.
“Our resources on the ground are facing extreme fire behavior, rugged terrain and warm temperatures,” Flannery said."
Alex Wigglesworth reports for the Los Angeles Times August 16, 2020.
SEE ALSO:
"Rolling Blackouts Hit California: What You Need To Know" (San Francisco Chronicle)
"Rolling Blackouts in California Have Power Experts Stumped" (New York Times)
"First Fires, Now Heat: Millions of Californians Back in the Dark" (Bloomberg Green)
"Death Valley Hits Record 130 On Sunday; Indio, Thermal Also Set Records" (Palm Springs Desert Sun)
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