A "fire tornado" refers to a swirling column of fire that looks like a whirlwind or a tornado. It occurs when fire gets caught in a strong updraft of wind, causing it to spin and create a spinning column of flames. Full definition
But now, a team of researchers in the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering say their discovery of a type of fire tornado they call a «blue whirl» could lead to beneficial new approaches for reducing carbon emissions and improving oil spill cleanup. (sciencedaily.com)