LA wildfires spark odd conspiracy theories disaster is part of ‘smart city’ plot
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Online disinformation about the LA wildfires has sparked a resurgence of bizarre conspiracy theories revolving around ‘smart cities’. More than 100,000 people have had to be evacuated and 10 died after fires tore through parts of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
![[The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2025. A ferocious wildfire in a Los Angeles suburb devoured buildings and sparked panicked evacuations January 7, as hurricane-force winds tore through the region. More than 200 acres (80 hectares) was burning in Pacific Palisades, a upscale spot with multi-million dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains. Across town, on the northern edge of Los Angeles, another fire broke out in Eaton Canyon, near Pasadena, quickly consuming 200 acres (81 hectares) later in the night, according to Angeles National Forest officials. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235332423-b4d3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
An estimated 10,000 buildings have been destroyed, including affluent suburbs, churches, Hollywood film locations and a school whose alumni include Will.i.am and Forest Whitaker. A number of wild claims have been touted, including one from none other than President-elect Donald Trump who said the fires are ‘all [the] fault’ of California governor Gavin Newsom.
![[Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235505870-0e22.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Right-wingers have also seized on a video of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters to blame Democrats for allegedly diverting supplies to Ukraine. Firefighters were seen using small canvas bags to quickly put out a garbage fire. Widely-shared social media posts claimed the firefighters were resorting to using women’s handbags due to budget cuts.
![[Debris from burned properties following the Palisades Fire at the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235572176-d352.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Officials said the bags were part of standard gear, and are a more efficient way to tackle small fires than using a hose, which takes time to set up. One of the strangest theories which generated traffic online is that the fires were deliberately set in order to create ‘smart cities’.
Fact-checkers Politifact said Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, had flagged a number of posts which created a buzz around this idea. The posts made confused and sometimes inaccurate references to plans for improving planning, public transport and sustainability, loosely grouped under the term ‘smart cities’.
