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Yosemite National Park has seen several major wildfires in recent years, but one annual fiery spectacle is far less damaging.

El Capitan's Horsetail Fall glows a few hours every year in an event known as the "Firefall." Photographers flock to the area in February, hoping to get a glimpse of the waterfall that looks like a cascading fire when the sunlight hits it just right.

The event is heavily reliant on weather. "First and foremost, Horsetail Fall must be flowing," said YosemiteFirefall.com. "If there’s not enough snowpack in February, there will not be enough snowmelt to feed the waterfall, which tumbles 1,570 feet down the east face of El Capitan."

(PHOTOS: You've Never Seen Water This Beautiful)

Temperatures must be warm enough to melt some of the snow to get Horsetail Fall flowing. Additionally, the angle of the sun and the amount of sunlight must shine perfectly on the waterfall to create the illumination, according to NBC Bay Area.

But if the ingredients come together in perfect alignment, it can create a magical show for onlookers.

"Firefall is like a photography tailgating party," said Terry McCafferty, a retired police officer who made a road trip to photograph the event, in a New York Times report.

The Firefall is most commonly seen in mid- to late-February, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It resembles a real fire that was seen at Glacier Point in parts of the 20th century, when park officials would build a bonfire and then push the glowing embers over the cliff, The New York Times added.

For best viewing, head to the El Capitan picnic area, NBC Bay Area said.

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