Close Shave for Firefighters as Fiery Twister Passes Nearby

A fiery whirlwind spun past firefighters patrolling an out-of-control blaze at Wallangarra, Queensland, on February 19.

The vortex of fire, wind and dust spun close to crew members, one of whom captured this video.

By February 20, the Wallangarra fire had burned through more than 45,000 hectares of bushland across the border of Queensland and New South Wales.

“Firefighters from the NSWRFS, Forestry Corp and NPWS will continue to work on the fireground today in an effort to bring the fire under control,” the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said in a statement. Credit: Andrew Macdonald via Storyful