'firenadoes'

カリフォルニア州サンディエゴ付近で山火事が相次いで発生し、現在のところ焼失面積は山の手線の内側の1.2倍に相当するそうです。同州では、昨年に続いて降水量が極端に低い状態が続いています。

'Unprecedented' wildfires, fierce winds lead to 'firenadoes' in California

San Marcos, California (CNN) -- When Elisha Exon saw towers of smoke looming over her San Marcos, California, home, she knew it was time to go. The only problem: All the nearby places she'd normally take her family in an emergency were threatened by fire, too.

"You kind of feel like your only safety would be to hop town, completely," she told CNN's "New Day."

The stunning explosion of fires this week in San Diego County -- eight in all, five still burning -- stirred suspicions of arson and sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes beginning Tuesday.

Fire crews hoped milder winds, lower temperatures and higher humidity Friday would help them get an edge on the fires, which have burned across more than 31 of San Diego County's 4,206 square miles, according to authorities.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/16/us/california-wildfires/index.html?hpt=us_c1

'firenadoes'はその形から分かるようにfireとtornadoから来た造語です。そのままだと「炎の竜巻」ですが、「火災旋風」という訳語が用いられます。

高熱と突風が重なって空気が渦を巻く現象だそうですが、日本では関東震災のときに現れたことが記録されています。確かに同義のfirewirlよりも、強いイメージが伝わりますが、見たくはない現象です。（UG）