Watch a 'smokenado' form in the skies over Portugal as country faces a wildfire emergency
An ongoing drought and record warm temperatures have contributed to more than 250,000 acres burning so far in 2022.
Portugal wildfire ignites firenado
A towering ‘smokenado’ was captured on video forming above a wildfire in Portugal. (Credit: Bruno Miguel Santos Silva via Storyful)
VILA REAL, Portugal – A wildfire burning in northern Portugal put on more than a show of flames and smoke Tuesday as what was described as a 'smokenado' filled the skies and traveled over the grassy hillside.
The scene took place in the Alvão Mountains, near the Spain-Portugal border.
Video taken by a local first responder showed the fire's smoke becoming entrapped in the twister-like feature.
Forest experts say these whirlwinds are often weak and form when warm air rises and produces an eddy.
Smokenado witnesses in Portugal
(Bruno Miguel Santos Silva via Storyful)
Most times, they are harmless but can cause fire to act erratically, putting firefighters at risk.
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The scene looked eerily familiar to when a 'firenado' was spotted by helicopters in early August during a wildfire near Gorman, California.
Similar to the Golden State, fires in the country of Portugal have kept firefighters busy.
Officials estimate more than 250,000 acres of brush have burned so far during an ongoing drought and record heatwaves.
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Image 1 of 5PALMELA, PORTUGAL - JULY 13: Fire extinguishing works continue for the forest fire close to houses in Palmela next to national road N252 in Palmela, Portugal. The fire started yesterday at 23:30 and is still burning today as it passes through the historic district of this city with a castle. The fire is currently close to a petrol station. In an effort to save their lives, some people and animals are being evacuated. (Andre Luis Alves/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
![Fires Rage In Central Portugal Amid European Heatwave]()
Image 2 of 5PALMELA, PORTUGAL - JULY 13: Fire extinguishing works continue for the forest fire close to houses in Palmela next to national road N252 in Palmela, Portugal. The fire started yesterday at 23:30 and is still burning today as it passes through the historic district of this city with a castle. The fire is currently close to a petrol station. In an effort to save their lives, some people and animals are being evacuated. (Andre Luis Alves/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
![Fires Rage In Central Portugal Amid European Heatwave]()
Image 3 of 5ALBERGARIA A VELHA, PORTUGAL - JULY 13: Firefighters during a forest fire that has hit a timber factory on July 13, 2022 in Albergaria a Velha, Portugal. Wildfires have swept across the central part of the country amid temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius. (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
![Fires Rage In Central Portugal Amid European Heatwave]()
Image 4 of 5ALBERGARIA A VELHA, PORTUGAL - JULY 13: Residents react and try to fight the fire as they see the forest lands around their houses burning on July 13, 2022 in Albergaria a Velha, Portugal. Wildfires have swept across the central part of the country amid temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius. (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
![Fires Rage In Central Portugal Amid European Heatwave]()
Image 5 of 5ALBERGARIA A VELHA, PORTUGAL - JULY 13: Residents react and try to fight the fire as they see the forest lands around their houses burning on July 13, 2022 in Albergaria a Velha, Portugal. Wildfires have swept across the central part of the country amid temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
The European Union has mobilized numerous resources, including aviation units, to help the country of 10 million people.
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"As wildfires continue to threaten people and resources across our continent, we need to stay alert and ready to deploy assistance as rapidly as possible from fire breakouts," Janez Lenarčič, the EU's commissioner for crisis management, said in a statement.
The EU said they are ready to mobilize further assistance if the country requests additional resources during the wildfire emergency.