No, The Hollywood Sign Didn't Burn Down: Disinformation Reports

CALIFORNIA — As the Sunset Fire started tearing through the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, sending people fleeing from their homes and triggering massive traffic jams, an image began circulating online of the famed Hollywood sign ablaze.

The photo was AI-generated — the sign remains standing, unharmed. But almost as soon as the fire started, the photo began circulating on social media.

Another rumor fueled the idea that firefighters ran out of water because the Palisades reservoir was empty, the Los Angeles Times reported. In fact, the Santa Ynez Reservoir was closed for repairs, but that was not the only reason why hydrants ran dry during the worst of the Palisades Fire, according to the Times.

READ MORE: Newsom Orders Investigation Into LA Water Supply Issues Amid Fires

Like the Hollywood sign image, social media users began rapidly sharing an interview clip from LA Mayor Karen Bass' former opponent Rick Caruso, who said the reservoir wasn’t “filled in a timely manner to keep the hydrants going.” The interview was real, but the information wasn't entirely correct, according to the Times.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "Information typically is shared with good intent; however, some people post on social media to further an ulterior agenda. Their posts may include rumors, false information and misinformation (e.g., deception, propaganda and malicious spamming)."

But whether the intent behind sharing erroneous images or text is malicious or not, experts say its effects are equally as harmful. And since social media has become a critical component of communicating emergency updates and preparedness, misinformation has the ability to gum up emergency efforts.

"Misinformation hampers officials who are trying to provide updated emergency information but have to devote time to addressing false statements or photos shared online," Jose Ramirez-Marquez of Stevens Institute of Technology told the Times.

Other types of inaccuracies took a political turn as some conservatives blamed the wildfires on a small endangered fish called the Delta smelt. Political figures, including president-elect Donald Trump, claimed that policies related to the fish affected how much water could be taken from the fish's habitat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to fight fires, NBC News reported.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Gov. Gavin Newsom "wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"

Izzy Gardon, Newsom's director of communications denied these claims and said Trump was "playing politics."

Other figures blamed the fires on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion policies).

James Woods, an actor whose home in the Pacific Palisades reportedly burned down, lambasted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley’s mention of DEI in her bio on the department's website.

“Refilling the water reservoirs would have been a welcome priority, too, but I guess she had too much on her plate promoting diversity,” Woods wrote on X next to a photo of the last paragraph of Crowley’s bio. The paragraph says: “Creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities are Chief Crowley’s priorities, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve the City of Los Angeles.”

Crowley's appointment in 2022 by Mayor Eric Garcetti came after former fire chief Ralph Terrazas stepped down in the face of scrutiny over his handling of harassment, sexist and racist behavior with the LAFD.

"I look for who's best, not just who makes history," Garcetti said at the time. "Because the protection of our city first and foremost has to go to the human being who is best prepared to lead. But, let me be clear, that is Kristin Crowley. And this progress is incredibly important and long overdue."

Crowley took the firefighters' exam in 1998 and placed among the top 50 scores out of 16,000 applicants, according to the department. At the time of her nomination to lead the department, she had worked within the LAFD's ranks for 22 years as a firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, fire marshal and deputy chief.