Los Angeles Wildfires Trigger Conspiracy Theories and Hate

As devastating wildfires continue to decimate sections of Los Angeles, California, extremists and conspiracy theorists are spreading familiar falsehoods, blaming the blaze on common scapegoats such as diversity initiatives, Jews and nefarious government “false flags.”

Fires that began in the Pacific Palisades area on January 7, 2025, are now part of a broader set of blazes across the city. Officials believe the fires were caused primarily by drought conditions, high winds and the cumulative effects of climate change.

Despite these facts, extremists and promoters of hate continue to spread false narratives about the fires to target marginalized groups and sow distrust — a tactic they’ve deployed following disasters and extreme weather phenomena for years. 
 

FALSE NARRATIVE #1: Fires were caused by prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion

One of the most prevalent false narratives suggests the fires are linked to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Many targeted Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley, the first female and openly LGBTQ+ person in her position, suggesting — without evidence — that she favored DEI initiatives over disaster preparedness, or hired unqualified candidates in the name of diversity.  

On Telegram, one Proud Boys chapter shared a meme featuring Crowley that read, “0% contained 100% DEI.” Another Proud Boys chapter posted an image of flames near Sunset Boulevard with the caption, “Woke has consequences.”

^{Anti-DEI meme in Villain City Proud Boys channel. Source: Telegram}

Similar theories also circulated after the 2023 Canadian wildfires. Extremists often blame disasters on factors like DEI and female leadership, a narrative that allows them to promote racism, misogyny and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric while denying the impact of climate change.  

FALSE NARRATIVE #2: Jews are responsible for— and deserve to suffer because of — the wildfires

Invoking classic tropes about disproportionate Jewish influence, antisemitic figures on social media blamed Jews at large for the Los Angeles wildfires.  

On X, antisemitic conspiracy theorist Stew Peters reshared a post that referred to Stewart and Lynda Resnick — owners of the Wonderful Company — as a “Jewish billionaire couple” with the caption, “It really is one group causing all the world’s problems.” Rumors about the Resnicks have falsely accused them of “controlling” the water in California, suggesting they contributed to water shortages that have made it harder to contain the fires. 

^{Stew Peters alluding to “one group causing all the world’s problems” in post mentioning Resnick couple. Source: X}

On Telegram, antisemitic conspiracy theorist Ali Alexander asked why Jews were not fighting fires or acting as “public servants” and questioned Jewish ownership of the insurance companies that are denying claims, implying that Jewish people act solely out of self-interest, even at the expense of others. While homeowners affected by the fire have indeed struggled with getting adequate insurance coverage, the notion that the companies in question are all controlled by Jews is based in antisemitic tropes about Jewish control and greed. 

Others expressed glee over the fires, specifically pointing out impacted areas with large Jewish populations. On Telegram, Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, shared a post alluding to the destruction of “expensive Jewish neighborhoods,” simultaneously promoting a misleading (and debunked) GAI image showing the iconic Hollywood sign in flames.

^{Christopher Pohlhaus sharing a post with GAI image, referencing “expensive Jewish neighborhoods.” Source: Telegram} 

Some even suggested that Jews brought the destruction upon themselves after making God angry. On X, one antisemitic influencer shared images of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, which burned down in the blaze, stating, “God is mad at the jews [sic].” On Telegram, accelerationist platform The American Futurist shared similar sentiments, claiming the fires “are a divine act against our jewish [sic] overlords and they deserve it.” 

FALSE NARRATIVE #3: Israel’s war in Gaza caused the fires

Anti-Zionist influencers and groups are blaming Israel as a key catalyst for the wildfires.  

For example, on X, far right and anti-Zionist influencer Jackson Hinkle suggested that U.S. funding for both Israel and Ukraine has taken away from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s ability to combat the fires; his post has garnered over 26K likes. Similar narratives followed the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in 2024, when false claims suggested that FEMA had insufficient funds for hurricane relief due to U.S. aid towards Israel.

Anti-Zionist groups including Code Pink and certain chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) attempted to draw explicit connections between Israel’s war in Gaza and the Los Angeles wildfires. On Instagram, these groups suggested that Israel’s military actions are a form of ecocide, meaning that Israel’s actions in Gaza are contributing disproportionately to global warming or that aid to Israel means the U.S. government doesn’t have adequate funds to fight the fires and climate change generally.

^{Code Pink tries to connect Israel’s war in Gaza to the Los Angeles fires. Source: Instagram}

While there is evidence that armed conflict impacts climate change, singling out Israel speaks to an agenda of demonizing and scapegoating Israel — rather than highlighting the actual climate crisis.  

FALSE NARRATIVE #4: The wildfires are the product of an “inside job” by Hollywood or the government

Purveyors of mis- and disinformation are leveraging the Los Angeles wildfires to spread “false flag” conspiracy theories.  

On X, Stew Peters argued that these “geo-engineered fires” are a deliberate weaponization of weather modification by the government, which he alleges is “trying to kill us.” Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones echoed similar claims, blaming the fires on “A Larger Globalist Plot To Wage Economic Warfare [sic].”

^{Alex Jones suggests wildfires prove that “globalists” are plotting against the United States. Source: X}

This narrative also surfaced following the Maui wildfires in 2023, which conspiracy theorists similarly blamed on “directed energy weapons” and government-controlled weather. Posts on X mentioning “directed energy weapons” have increased considerably since the fires began, with nearly 47K mentions on the platform since January 7.

Others claimed the fires were set deliberately to cover up evidence of prominent Angelenos’ nefarious activity. QAnon believers claimed that Hunter Biden’s home was destroyed in the fires — an event they called “convenient”— and that the destruction was a deliberate attempt to cover up crimes.  While Biden’s home was indeed in the path of the fires, the scale of damage is not yet clear and there is no indication that it was deliberately targeted.

Similar theories suggested that the fires were coordinated to cover up evidence of sex trafficking in Hollywood, pointing out fires near the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, confusing that location with the Getty Museum. The latter is frequently cited by QAnon and “Save The Children” conspiracy theorists, who for years have promoted the unfounded claim that thousands of children are being held in tunnels under the museum.

^{Conspiratorial account suggests associates of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs are responsible for the fires. Source: TikTok}

Conspiracy theorists on TikTok suggested the fires were set by “P-DIDDYS PEOPLE,” referring to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who was recently accused of sexual abuse.