Birdwatch Note Rating
2023-08-11 00:08:03 UTC - HELPFUL
Rated by Participant: 3BBA39BF5EBEA6E5AEA5745D21B99200BA0F9D41CB41BE393743AA23EFCE6514
Participant Details
Original Note:
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.
All Note Details