Photos and videos capturing the devastation of the wildfire in Los Angeles, Southern California, have been trending online, with many images depicting the heroic efforts of firefighters battling the flames. Among the most widely shared content are images of firefighters rescuing pets from the inferno, which have quickly gained traction across various social media platforms. These emotional visuals, showing firefighters saving animals, have drawn significant attention and sparked widespread discussions.
This is about our investigation of this photo.
Social Media Claim
On January 15, 2025, a Khmer-speaking Facebook user posted a photo of firefighters with several cats, claiming it was from a rescue operation in California. The screenshot from the post reads: “[…] The team went inside and found three kittens. Team leader James picked them up and gave them to his friend Emily […]”.
Similar photos showing firefighters rescuing a cat were widely shared on Facebook by multiple users. These images quickly spread across the platform, with many users sharing and commenting on them in response to the ongoing crisis.
The photos were often accompanied by emotional captions, portraying heroic acts by firefighters during the disaster.
A similar photo was shared on the social media platform X on January 12, 2025, depicting a firefighter holding a cat. This image quickly gained attention and was widely circulated, drawing significant engagement from users.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo conducted a thorough review of the images using advanced tools such as Google Reverse Image Search and AI verification technologies. Through this process, we were able to uncover crucial information about the authenticity of the images.
When we uploaded the photo to the Hive Moderation website, it was revealed that the image was not genuine. Instead of being a real, unaltered photograph, the image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The photo below clearly demonstrates that the images above were created using AI technology and are not real representations of actual events.
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Hive Moderation Link | Archived Link
Similarly, AI Detect Content, another website and app that verifies whether text or images are produced by artificial intelligence technology, also showed results indicating that over 60 percent of the content was created by AI.
AI Detect Content | Archived Link
The photos and video clips circulating regarding the Los Angeles wildfire disaster have been thoroughly fact-checked and verified by the team at Fact Crescendo. After a comprehensive review, we have confirmed the authenticity of the content and assessed its accuracy. Our team has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the information shared is reliable.
For more detailed information and to access our full findings, please refer to the links below:
- AI Image of Church Surviving California Wildfire Goes Viral (archived link)
- False Claim Spread: Iconic Hollywood Sign on Fire (archived link)
The Fact Crescendo team has found that there have been ongoing animal rescues in response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. As wildfires often displace both wildlife and pets, local animal organizations and first responders are quick to act to help.
For example, groups like The Los Angeles Fire Department’s Animal Rescue Team and The California Wildlife Center have been instrumental in rescuing animals from evacuation zones, treating injuries, and relocating them to safer areas. Wildlife rehabilitation centers also step in to care for injured animals such as birds, squirrels, and even larger creatures like deer or coyotes.
Note: While some photos related to these efforts may be shared in the media, it’s important to recognize that some of them may be AI-generated images created for illustrative purposes, rather than actual depictions of the rescue operations.
International Fund for Animal Welfare Link | Archived Link
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has investigated the claims and found them to be false. The photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI) and are not real.
Title:AI-Generated Photo Depicts Firefighter Rescuing Animal from Blaze
Written By: Kakada SimResult: Altered
