Harrowing videos of the California wildfires, which have killed at least five and forced thousands from their homes, have flooded news and social media across the globe as authorities struggle to contain the flames.
The fires that erupted on Tuesday have burned nearly 30,000 acres and remain largely uncontained. Shocking footage has captured collapsing homes and fiery winds spreading destructive embers across neighborhoods.
However, as with other recent crises, unrelated media from other fires has dropped into the online conversation, drawing in otherwise unsuspicious viewers.
The Claim
Multiple posts on X, formerly Twitter, included a video that appeared to be from the California wildfires, showing firefighters handing a resident a cat as emergency services attempted to put out a blaze.
A post by the account Media Insider, posted on January 8, 2024, included the video with the message: "This man's house caught fire and he lost everything, but the firefighters managed to rescue his cat #PalisadesFire#CaliforniaFires#Wildfires#EatonFire#Pasadena#California#LosAngeles#BreakingNews#Palisades#CaliforniaWildfires."
The Facts
Mislabeled or misleading content often spreads quickly in light of disasters, whether intentional or not. This clip of a resident running from a home with a cat, bathing it, and providing it water as they lay on the sidewalk is one such example.
While the video was recorded in Los Angeles, the footage is from last year and is unrelated to wildfires. As reported by NBC4 News, homeowner Isaac Vaizman said he pleaded with firefighters to save his cat as his house in Tarzana caught fire.
Vaizman told reporters that he tried to run into the property to save his cat, 14-year-old Cheetah, but was held back by firefighters. The fire took 38 LAFD firefighters to put out.
Although there were wildfires in California in July 2024, these were in the north of the state, a more than seven-hour drive from Tarzana.
Some posts that included the video of Vaizman included hashtags like #LosAngeles and #California, almost certain to lead viewers to understand the video was recorded during the ongoing wildfires.
One post of the same video, shared on Tuesday as fires erupted, has been viewed 20 million times. Although that post did not mention California, the time it was posted suggests it may have misled others to believe, whether intentionally or not, that it was from the ongoing wildfires.
Pet animals are typically evacuated with their owners during wildfires and can find refuge in shelters.
The Westwood Recreation Center is currently open for evacuees and small animals, serving as a shelter where they can remain overnight. The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is open to evacuate large animals, the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Tuesday.
The California Animal Response Emergency Support unit of the California Department of Food and Agriculture has issued several guidelines for animals, including pets, to prepare for emergencies and disasters such as fires.
Owners are advised to have a "pet evacuation kit" ready on hand, containing at least a week's supply of food and water and other important items such as health documents and medication.
See the CDFA website for more information on keeping pets and other animals safe during fires and other emergencies.
The Ruling
Misleading Material.
The video of a cat rescued from a burning home was not recorded during the ongoing California wildfires. Although filmed in Los Angeles, it was recorded at the scene of a house fire in July 2024.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
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