Firestorm is a type of severe weather condition, which is controlled by its own wind system. It results from other natural disasters like forest fire, wild fire and bushfire. The most prominent illustration of firestorm is the Great Peshtigo Fire. Firestorm can also be man made, resulting from aerial bombings during war.

Creation of Firestorm

Stack effect causing propelled movement of air in and out from a particular location is the main force that creates firestorm. Bushfire or wild fire generates huge amount of heat. As the heated air moves up, it draws more and more from the neighborhood locality to fill up the vacuum. This results in the creation of firestorm. If a jet stream operates near the firestorm, the air current resulting from it moves up suddenly making the storm more powerful.

The updraft in firestorm looks like a mushroom. Once the storm breaks out, strong wind from the surroundings starts to move towards its center. In firestorm the centripetal force is so powerful that it prevents erratic movement of winds. The difference of wind power between the firestorm center and the surrounding locality is so huge that it creates dust devil and tornadoes.

Firestorm Warning Signs

There are certain indications, which can warn you against firestorm like reduced visibility, relatively low sound conductivity, troubles in breathing and huge amount of radiated heat followed by leaf pyrolysis.

Firestorms are mostly observed in urban areas. It has always been associated with great fires. The Great Fire of Rome, the Great Fire of Chicago and the Great of London are some of the common examples of firestorms. A huge firestorm followed the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.