Bush fire along Colorado River turns into firenado

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A couple from Blythe, California, stopped near Colorado River on Saturday
They took petrifying footage of a firenado shooting flames and smoke into the air
Moments later, it hits the river, causing a water spout and sending debris flying
Temperatures of 110 degrees and 20 mile/hr winds helped turn fire into tornado

Published: 19:46 EDT, 17 July 2018 | Updated: 05:26 EDT, 18 July 2018

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The moment a bush fire leaped into the Colorado river and created a spinning vortex of flames has been caught on video.

Video recorded by Chris and Anne Mackie, from Blythe in California, shows massive flames engulfing the trees lining part of the river, with extreme heat and strong winds causing a tornado-like phenomenon.

As the flames and smoke spun on Saturday, the 'firenado' eventually hit the water, causing a huge water spout.

Hot temperatures 20 mph winds turned a bushfire into a petrifying tornado of flames on Saturday

As flames consumed land just meters away, thrill seekers were seen riding a speedboat up and down the Colorado River

Despite the apocalyptic scene taking place just yards away, a group are seen on a speed boat, going up and down the river.

Anne can be heard whispering: 'oh my gosh' as the couple watch the water shoot into the air, as Chris points out the powerful gust is sending parts of the burning trees flying.

Firenados are formed when hot and dry air rises from the ground rapidly, forming vertical columns, LiveScience reported.

Over time, the column pulls in more of the hot air, and begins to twist into a vortex shape, taking burning embers, ash, gases and other flammable bits of debris - creating a whirlwind of fire that twirls into the air.

Moments later, the firenado hit the river, causing a water spout and sending burning debris flying through the air

A firenado can send flames spinning hundreds of feet into the air, and on Saturday, smoke was seen skyrocketing 25,000 feet into the air, The Washington Post reported.

The burn was exacerbated by temperatures of 110 degrees and winds of 20 miles an hour.

After a few minutes staring at nature's petrifying display, the couple agree they should get out of the area before their car is hit by a flying, burning but of debris.