Fox 11 Los Angeles
It was a mesmerizing and frightening moment Friday night, when a fire tornado was whipped up … as massive blazes continued to destroy portions of Los Angeles.
The tornado — or “firenado” — was filmed by Fox 11 on the northern flank of the Palisades fire — as winds whipped the massive flames into the stunning weather phenomenon.
Fox11’s Adam Krueger marveled at the moment … while explaining it occurs when a breeze meets up with an updraft — causing a vortex, which picks up flames, resulting in the firenado.
The Palisades Fire, which broke out on Tuesday, remains the largest fire ravaging Los Angeles County — it has destroyed more than 21,000 acres in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, and is currently only 8% contained, now the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
As of Saturday morning, there were 11 confirmed dead across all L.A. fires — with more than 100,000 evacuation orders issued … that list growing overnight to Brentwood and Encino as the blaze sweeps east in the Palisades.
![011025_tmz_live_newsom](https://cirrkus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1736609007_401_Fire-Tornado-Pops-Up-Amid-Massive-Inferno-Devastating-Los-Angeles.jpg)
TMZ.com
As the deadly destruction rages on, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass have both been severely criticized over their response — including recent budget cuts to the fire department.