A clip of fire and firefighters trying to extinguish it was widely shared on social media, claiming it was the wildfire in Los Angeles, California in January. The clip had been shared more than 1,000 times along with reactions and comments. However, running Google Reverse Image Search proves the claim was false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A viral video of a fire was claimed to show the wildfire that devastated Los Angeles, California in January.
This claim has been widely shared more than 1,000 times on social media, eliciting various reactions and comments.
Below is the full clip of the video claim stating that “Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery – Healing Minds and Rebuilding Lives.”
In addition to the previous claim, the same clip was also combined with other videos showing firefighters attempting to extinguish fires in various locations. It was asserted that these were volunteer firefighters from Mexico fighting the California wildfire in January.
Below is the clip, which has been composited with other video footage, claiming it depicts the California wildfire.
In another post on Instagram, a screenshot of the clip was circulated on the social media platform with the caption said: “Praying for LA – Los Angeles.”
See the Instagram post below.
Instagram Post | Archived Link
Another Instagram post five weeks ago claimed that it was a fire broken in Turkey
Instagram Post | Archived Link
As the clip went viral on social media platforms with suspicious captions and descriptions, Fact Crescendo started debunking it to disclose the facts.
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo checked and verified the above-mentioned claims by conducting a Google Reverse Image Search, which led to the following findings.
Through a Google Reverse Image Search, we discovered that the video in question had been widely published and reported by various media outlets in late 2023.
In its report (archived), the Australian media outlet, The Age, stated that a fire broke out at a paint factory in Melbourne on December 8, 2023, resulting in one worker being reported missing and several others injured.
Below is the capture of the video news report published by the Australian media outlets on December 8, 2023.
The Age’s Report | Archived Link
In its report, the English newspaper, The Guardian, published images of the fire that shared the same frame as the previously mentioned clip. The photo caption says the fire erupted at a paint factory in Melbourne’s Dandenong South, Australia.
Guardian’s Report | Archived Link
Based on two media reports, the eruption of the fire in Melbourne took place more than one year before the wildfire devastating Los Angeles, California.
According to figures (archived) released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, at least 29 people were killed in the wildfire that affected various locations in California.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the wildfire was estimated to cause $250 billion in economic damage after the fire devasted neighborhoods in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu.
The wildfire in California could be contained 24 days after it broke out, forcing more than 200,000 residents to evacuate and destroying more than 18,000 homes and structures. Read the full article here
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo determined that the above-mentioned claim is false. The fire occurred at a paint factory in Australia in December 2023, which was more than a year before the wildfire outbreak in California.
Title:Old Australian Fire Footage Misrepresented as California Wildfire
Written By: Jay UdomResult: False
