Rare ‘ash devil’ spotted during SoCal wildfire

A fast-moving vegetation fire in Phelan is now half contained after scorching roughly 19 acres, but it’s the unusual sight captured on video that’s turning heads.

The Trinity Fire, which ignited in San Bernardino County, drew a coordinated response from Cal Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, Victorville Fire Department and Apple Valley Fire. 

Their joint effort kept the blaze to 18.6 acres with no reported damage to structures.

Fire officials say the incident has since exited Unified Command, with crews continuing daytime operations to monitor conditions and knock down lingering hot spots.

Bookending the incident video is a rare phenomenon known as an “ash devil.”

Unlike a typical dust devil, this spinning column forms when extreme heat forces air upward, creating a vortex that pulls ash, embers and debris into the air.

These swirling funnels aren’t just eye-catching, they can be dangerous. 

Ash devils are capable of scattering embers in multiple directions, igniting new spot fires, shifting winds unpredictably and limiting visibility for firefighters working nearby.

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The phenomenon is more commonly observed near volcanic activity, such as Hawaii’s Kilauea, or during eruptions like Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung, where similar whirlwinds are known to occur.

Officials are urging residents to take the event as a reminder to prepare for wildfire season by clearing debris, creating defensible space and hardening homes against fire risk.