A body of superheated air, ash, and other debris rotating rapidly around a glowing, fiery core, typically resembling a narrow whirlwind or tornado in shape, produced by wind turbulence above a mass of burning material.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Evening Journal (Indianapolis).
Definition of fire tornado in US English:
fire tornado
noun
A body of superheated air, ash, and other debris rotating rapidly around a glowing, fiery core, typically resembling a narrow whirlwind or tornado in shape, produced by wind turbulence above a mass of burning material.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Evening Journal (Indianapolis).