While the LA fires were causing destruction in California, some people were trying to cause a different kind of destruction on social media by spreading violence-based misinformation about the cause of the blazes. The claims say that lasers or directed-energy weapons (DEWs) are what started the wildfires. Experts have determined these rumors to be definitively false, and the real factors contributing to the fires’ behavior and features have been provided.
First false claim: Wildfires that leave blue items behind were caused by DEWs
The first of two unfounded claims circling social media is that if a fire passes an area and only blue items are left unscathed, then this is “proof” that the fire was caused by a directed-energy weapon. This is not true.
According to the federal Government Accountability Office, DEWs are weapons that fire concentrated energy at the speed of light, such as high-power microwaves and high-energy lasers.
While Southern California was burning, someone on Threads invited people to scrutinize the aftermath of the fires and note how frequently blue items were left unburned, suggesting that this obscure fact is proof that greater malicious forces were at play. The hoax post read:
“Hey everyonee [sic] in the area of the L.A. fires, be on the lookout for any blue items that survive the fire and take pictures of them. Many of the recent fires had blue items which survived unscathed: cars, umbrellas, tarps, t-shirts, plastic bins, etc whereas even the aluminum engine parts and wheels melted to liquid. This is indicative of DEW’s (Directed Energy Weapons) which, depending on the frequency, will leave items of a certain color unscathed because color is also a frequency in the light spectrum.”
The post about DEWs and blue items is totally false
An expert who responded to the hoax explained that the color blue has nothing to do with saving items from a DEW powerful enough to spark fires of this magnitude.
Another expert in wildfire science pointed out that wildfires don’t leave a uniform pattern of total devastation behind.
The post making the untrue claim was flagged by Meta under its efforts to combat false reporting and misinformation on its multiple platforms’ news feeds. This is not the first claim of its kind. When wildfires affected Maui, Hawaii, in August 2023 and then Texas in early 2024, some social media accounts claimed DEWs had been used to attack the area, more misinformation that was proven to be false.
Second false claim: Trees left standing after a wildfire are evidence of a laser attack
A second fake claim related to the LA fires is that if trees are left standing after a fire has passed, it means that it was started by a laser attack.
Two social media posts making the fake claim along with some photos of supposed “proof” showing an aerial video of houses destroyed by the flames were captioned:
“Again! Why do I see all those trees intact? DEW Direct Energy Weapons is my answer!!!”
And:
“Palisades, CA… latest Directed Energy Weapon attack… trees left intact while cars melt… HAARP used to fan flames…”
Scientific evidence explains why trees are often less burned than one would expect, and it has to do with their moisture content, composition, the speed of the fire, the conditions around the fire, and the way that flames behave.
An expert explains why trees often don’t burn
Jon Keeley, a fire scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, commented:
“It is not uncommon for wildfires that burn through urban areas to observe trees surviving while adjacent homes are incinerated. The primary reason is that trees have roots that bring water up to keep the foliage moist. Homes do not. They are constructed from dried materials and typically are at equilibrium with ambient conditions.”
Keeley said that wind is another factor:
“Trees are more likely to survive because moist foliage will not burn until it is heated sufficiently to drive off the moisture. When the winds are moving fast, often it is past the trees before they have dried sufficiently to ignite.”
Ways to protect yourself from misinformation online
People are being reminded to be wary of false information circulating online, particularly when it’s of an inciteful nature. Here are some tips to guard against hoaxes:
- Learn how to evaluate reputable, reliable, and trustworthy sources and consult these for the facts.
- Verify the author’s expertise or credibility.
- Cross-check the “facts” and look for confirmation from other sources.
- Analyze the quality of the content and the text.
- Evaluate the motives behind the information.
- Use fact-checking resources, like websites that investigate claims.
- Develop and trust your instincts.
- Use tools and technology designed to detect AI or evaluate credibility.