Viral images circulated across social media platforms last weekend depicting Hollywood's iconic white sign overlooking Los Angeles consumed by flames. While this unsettling sight shocked millions globally, it was completely fabricated. The fire never reached Mount Lee, and the famous landmark remained untouched. These AI-generated fake images that captivated the world represent just a fraction of the false narratives and conspiracy theories surrounding the fires that have now spread across 45 square miles, claimed nine lives, and forced 180,000 residents to evacuate – with damages estimated at $150 billion.
The search for culprits behind this natural disaster began last week and has itself become mired in conspiracy theories. The first target was Kristin Crowley, the Los Angeles Fire Department Chief. Kristin has served in the organization for 22 years, led multiple departments, and has held her current leadership position since 2022. Beyond her professional role, the fire chief is also an openly lesbian woman who actively champions LGBTQ rights. Since the fires erupted, Kristin has endured intense online criticism, with thousands of users claiming she prioritized gender advocacy over fire prevention.
"' Do you really think that DEI really made the damage from these fires worse?' Uh yeah, I do. DEI was the fire chief's focus and the department + the city spent money on DEI while dangerous brush hadn't been cleared and fire hydrants didn't have water," conservative activist Robbie Starbuck said on his X account. The post gained widespread attention after being shared by Elon Musk. The world's wealthiest individual and Donald Trump's close ally also amplified the statement of Alex Jones, widely known as "America's conspiracy theorist," who claimed that the fires were deliberately set as part of a global plan to wage economic warfare.
Regarding the city's fire hydrant situation, Donald Trump publicly accused Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom of responsibility for Los Angeles's water supply difficulties. The incoming president alleged that Newsom refused to sign a water rehabilitation declaration that would have permitted the use of millions of gallons of water to combat the fires. The governor's office rejected this claim, stating "There is no water rehabilitation document, it's pure fantasy," but the BBC revealed that Newsom had indeed opposed – in 2020, during Trump's first term – increasing water allocation to Southern California.
Karen Bass, Los Angeles mayor since 2022, faced similar harsh criticism over her environmental policy decisions. Some went so far as to claim she bore direct responsibility for the massive fires, orchestrated the disaster, and should be held accountable. While Bass did reduce the fire department's budget about a year ago, cutting $17.6 million from a total budget of $820 million, she defended her actions: "It's most important to understand that we were in tough budgetary times – everybody knew that – but that the impact of our budget really did not impact what we've been going through over the last few days."
The conspiracy theories currently circulating worldwide extend to California's two powerhouse industries: technology and entertainment. These theories suggest the severe fires weren't caused by negligence or natural disasters but resulted from deliberate arson to advance the SmartLA 2028 plan: building a new city from Los Angeles' ashes, governed by artificial intelligence. This theory draws inspiration from an obscure 2020 document discussing the city's "digitalization" and the use of laser weapons against an unspecified enemy.
And of course, there's Hollywood – where conspiracy theorists claim that certain celebrities orchestrated the fires to cover up their alleged crimes. This narrative focuses on Sean (Diddy) Combs, who faced rape and human trafficking accusations in September. Some online theories claim the existence of a tunnel connecting the rapper's residence to the Playboy mansion – a passage never discovered. Conspiracy theorists argue the fire stemmed from desperate attempts to destroy this alleged tunnel and eliminate evidence that could further compromise Diddy and his associates. They point to the destruction of numerous celebrity homes in the fire as supposed evidence.
A more credible theory still under investigation suggests the fire resulted from severe environmental conditions exacerbated by climate change. This scenario proposes that initial ignition, combined with failures in the regional power grid, not only went unchecked but spread rapidly. Perhaps most concerning to Americans is that California – despite being among the best-prepared states for such disasters – was reduced to ashes. This raises an alarming question: what might happen if similar fires erupted across other US states? The implications could be catastrophic.
