Firefighters escape fire tornado in Canada

A Canadian woman has captured the moment firefighters fled an out-of-control bushfire northwest of Edmonton, after it became a swirling vortex of dust and flames.

Video of the fire tornado, filmed by Diane Logan, was posted to Facebook account of the St Albert Firefighters on Sunday.

It shows a plume of smoke and red flames enveloped by a swirling brown column.

Tiny figures can be seen racing away from the tornado, which billows out, sweeping menacingly towards the camera and forcing the camerawoman to abandon filming.

“This video shows how fast and dangerous the brush fire on Thursday at big lake became in a matter of seconds,” the caption reads.

The video has since been viewed tens of thousands of times.

The fire was reportedly sparked by a campfire and spread by strong wind conditions, CBC reports.

Vincent Pashko was one of the dozen firefighters on the scene when the tornado appeared, forcing them to take shelter in the neighbouring Sturgeon River.

"We're sitting, waiting for the conditions to change, and a windstorm started up from behind," Mr Pashko said.

"The little bit of brush that was behind us lit on fire and ... created a windmill, almost like a tornado.

“I could feel the heat coming up over my head, and I ran to Big Lake and dropped into the water to cool myself off."

No one was hurt in the fire.