Dramatic video from southern California shows a fiery tornado — or "firenado" — swirling on the scorched countryside near the community of Phelan.

The southern California wildfire has forced 82,000 people to flee the area. It began mid-morning Tuesday as a small patch of flame next to Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass but by day's end had turned into a 72.5-square-kilometre monster that had burned an untold number of homes.

The fire has torn through canyons and flown over ridges in every direction with astonishing speed, sending flames 24 metres skyward.