[Fact Check] Debunking the Hawaii Fire Conspiracy: No Evidence Ties to Directed-Energy Weapons

Quick Look:

• No current evidence links the Hawaii wildfire to "directed-energy weapons." Several circulating images online may have been altered or are unrelated to the fire.
• According to The New York Times, the exact cause of the Hawaii wildfire remains unclear. However, experts suggest a live power line, dropped during strong winds, may have started the blaze.

Background

Around August 8 local time, flames broke out on Maui, one of Hawaii's islands. Fueled by robust winds, the fire rapidly consumed much of the island. By August 13th, based on combined reports from The Guardian and The Washington Post, the blaze resulted in at least 93 deaths, marking the deadliest fire since Hawaii's statehood. Additionally, over 2,200 structures suffered damage or destruction.

Following the outbreak, various social platforms featured images claiming to be from the scene, all displaying what appeared to be laser beams from the sky. Rumors suggested that the U.S. government was testing a "directed-energy weapon" (a weapon that produces a high energy density on a surface, resulting in damage), thus implying that the Maui fire was not a natural disaster but rather a human-caused tragedy.

Fact Check

Upon reverse searching the images online, it becomes evident that they were either manipulated or unrelated to the wildfire event.

The first image, sourced from Maui News, belongs to the Associated Press. Captured by Maui photographer Matthew Thayer, the photo illustrates the historic Waiola Church and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission engulfed in flames on August 8th, 2023. Comparing the original with the circulated version reveals that the latter might have been horizontally flipped and doctored by adding a laser beam graphic.

Two other images, presented by netizens, have older origins. One image, dated back to 2018, was used by a Spanish news site, la informacion, reporting on a meteorite that landed near Detroit, Michigan. Although rumors suggested it portrayed a "directed-energy weapon" attack, the US Geological Survey confirmed it was indeed a meteorite. Another image was traced back to 2019 from SpaceNews, showcasing a SpaceX collaboration with Iridium. The displayed beam was linked to the launch of "Iridium 6".

In conclusion, none of the examined images validate the claim that the Hawaii fire resulted from the U.S. government's "directed-energy weapon" testing. To date, there's no concrete evidence tying the wildfire to these weapons.

So, what might have caused the Hawaii fire?

The New York Times reports uncertainty surrounding the wildfire's origin, though one theory is that strong winds knocked down a live power line, which then initiated the fire. This blaze eventually spread to Lahaina, leveling a coastal town of approximately 13,000 residents.

Compounding the fire's severity, the category four Hurricane Dora, located several hundred miles to the south, brought low humidity and strong mountain winds. A prolonged drought also played a role in setting the stage for the fire. Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that nearly 16% of the region surrounding Maui faced severe drought conditions around August 8th.

Elizabeth Pickett, the co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, shared with The Washington Post that historically, Hawaii hadn't experienced significant wildfire threats. As a result, the state lacked both preventive measures and readiness to contain fires.

Currently, as relief efforts continue, The New York Times notes that Maui's transportation department will close one of the main airport's general aviation runways to allow cargo flights carrying essential goods. Additionally, an informal network of volunteers has set up a temporary aid distribution system to help affected residents find gasoline, water, and other essentials.