Birdwatch Archive

Birdwatch Note

2023-08-10 14:31:21 UTC - MISINFORMED_OR_POTENTIALLY_MISLEADING

The claim that laser beams have been used to ignite wildfires has circulated online since at least 2018: https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/marjorie-taylor-greene-penned-conspiracy-theory-laser-beam-space-started-deadly-2018 Although Hurricane Dora moved across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian islands, it did generate powerful winds which fanned the flames: https://twitter.com/NWSHonolulu/status/1688339743946522624 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-did-maui-fire-start-cause-lahaina-hawaii-wildfire/#:~:text=The%20powerful%20winds%20fanning%20the,the%20National%20Weather%20Service%20said.

Written by E23374E04DD1B97ED5E4BE68F56CD25AE5DE53DD2A35410552EB191262FC21A1
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• classification - MISINFORMED_OR_POTENTIALLY_MISLEADING
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• summary
• The claim that laser beams have been used to ignite wildfires has circulated online since at least 2018: https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/marjorie-taylor-greene-penned-conspiracy-theory-laser-beam-space-started-deadly-2018 Although Hurricane Dora moved across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian islands, it did generate powerful winds which fanned the flames: https://twitter.com/NWSHonolulu/status/1688339743946522624 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-did-maui-fire-start-cause-lahaina-hawaii-wildfire/#:~:text=The%20powerful%20winds%20fanning%20the,the%20National%20Weather%20Service%20said.