January’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles were so fast-moving that many turned to social media to keep track. On TikTok there are more than 100k posts using the hashtag 'wildfires' along with nearly 600k posts about ‘Los Angeles’ in the last 30 days, with a big spike around 8-14 Jan just after the fires first broke out.
However, alongside the genuine news updates there were many posts containing fake news and misinformation. We look at three stories that went viral on social media – and uncover the truth behind them.
1. The Hollywood sign was on fire – FAKE
Several videos and images appeared on X and TikTok on 9 January reportedly showing the famous Hollywood sign on fire. However, this content was created using AI or using image-editing software. When trying to work out if an image is AI or fake, you should look at the detail to see if there are any tell-tale signs. In the first image of the Hollywood sign, if you look closely you will see there are three Ls.
BBC Verify journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh first highlighted that fake news about the fire was being shared on social media in his post on X dated 9 January (pictured). While there were reports of a smaller wildfire breaking out in the Hollywood Hills on 9 January, it was quickly contained, as confirmed by Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass on X. The bigger wildfires were actually several miles away from the Hollywood sign, the location of which we've circled in a picture that was posted by the BBC using information released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
You should double-check information from social media sources that may be unreliable by looking at news from official outlets and organisations. Check out our tips for verifying something you see on your socials.
2. Destroyed celebrity homes pictured before and after – FAKE*
*The LA wildfires have sadly destroyed more than 10,000 homes in California, including the properties of several celebrities. While there have been many genuine images posted showing the damages to homes, there's also been AI-generated content shared that has helped to spread misinformation.
One video that has been viewed almost a million times on TikTok claimed to show images of the multi-million dollar homes of celebrities including Mandy Moore before and after the fire. But is it real?
No. This video has been labelled by the creator as AI-generated content. A good tip for spotting AI images includes checking the bio, description and any tags that have been added to the post. Images and videos that have been created using AI will often include some information that confirms that they’re not real.
3. A bird caused the LA wildfires – FAKE
More than 200,000 people have viewed a video on TikTok that appears to show a bird starting a fire in a forest using its beak to create sparks. The caption reads 'a bird caused a fire in California', however, a closer look at the video reveals it is fake and has likely been created using AI or editing software.
Birds of prey have been known to use fire to help them find food as the flames will drive out insects and small animals. Australian indigenous people have recalled in interviews how they’ve observed groups of birds they call ‘firehawks’ carrying burning sticks to new locations. But this isn't thought to be the case with the Californian wildfires.
Investigators in LA are scouring the area for clues as to what actually started the blaze, and it may take as long as a year to find out what actually caused the deadly fires.
This article was published in January 2025
Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.
