Local News Chopper Catches LA Fire Tornado [Video]

A Los Angeles news chopper captured a “fire tornado” on the crest of a ridge Friday night as the deadly Pacific Palisades blaze continued to climb north and east toward the San Fernando Valley.

KTLA pilot Gil Leyvas joined the station’s 11 p.m. Friday night broadcast from the skies above LA County as the area struggled with a fourth straight day of devastating blazes.

Anchor Micah Ohlman started the newscast and tossed it to Leyvas to update KTLA’s audience on the latest developments before the pilot explained he had just captured video of a “fire tornado.”

“Let’s go to some video that we shot just a short time ago of what is known as a fire tornado,” the pilot explained. “It is quite a sight to see. It happens quite a bit.”

Leyvas explained that with the conditions of the fires consuming much of LA County, one such as the Palisades blaze “creates its own weather.” …