Fire Tornado at house burn in Illinois

Comment

Comment by Giovanni Manzini on June 10, 2008 at 5:32am

Very intersting photo.
A question (for our research): which was the duration of the phenomenon?

Tip from our research text:
The development of fire with flames characterized by horizontal plane rotational motions (whirling flames or, in high intensity cases, fire tornadoes), is an infrequent, but no exceptional, event, and, besides, it is potentially catastrophic. In the past were observed phenomena, with flame vortices with diameter values more than 300 m and highness up to 1200 m (Chicago and Peshtigo fires – USA October 1871, Great Kanto Eathquake 1923, fire bombing of Hamburg - 1943 and Dresden – 1945).
The enhancement of HRR (Heat Release Rate), the large sizes, especially those vertical, and the strong drag actions on the surrounding areas, can be determine high magnitude damages. The fires of this kind can develop either outdoors or in confined environments, and the main development causes are the great values of HRR and the ventilation conditions. Because of the complexity of these phenomena, the means necessary to do an effective analysis are: physics – mathematical analysis, experimental activity and computational thermo – fluid – dynamics (CFD) modeling and codes. In this kind it is possible to clarify the phenomenology of these fires and contribute to optimization of the prevention and protection activities.

Comment by Mike Walker on March 18, 2008 at 7:39pm

That's very cool! I don't care who you are, that's just cool.