Firefighters battling a wildfire in Southern California witnessed a rare phenomena: an ash devil.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department posted video of crews working to extinguish the Trinity Fire, which erupted near Phelan just before noon Friday. Firefighters with Cal Fire, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, the Victorville Fire Department and the Apple Valley Fire Department used ground and air units to keep the blaze from expanding past 20 acres.
Included in the footage was video of an ash devil, a “rare” phenomena that officials say forms when intense heat causes air to rise and spin, pulling ash, embers and debris into a rotating column similar to a dust devil or tornado.
“Ash devils can create serious challenges on the fireline by spreading embers and igniting spot fires in multiple directions, causing unpredictable wind shifts and reducing visibility for crews working nearby,” San Bernardino County fire officials said.
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As of Saturday morning, the Trinity Fire, which started near Trinity Road and Acanthus Street in Phelan, stood at 19 acres and was 50% contained, according to Cal Fire…