On social media, many viewers were stunned by a chilling video showing several young men fleeing from the apparent starting point of a mega blaze that has devastated LA.
A viral video has reignited debate about the devastating Palisades fire in Los Angeles.
The footage shows a group of young men fleeing the fire’s apparent starting point. This has fueled wild conspiracy theories, ranging from arson to covert operations.
The viral footage that started the controversy
On X platform t video, uploaded to social media, captures six young men in their 20s hiking near Skull Rock in Temescal Canyon.
Beni Oren, who shared the clip, explained that the group smelled smoke before realizing the fire had started nearby.
“My friends and I got ambushed by the Palisades fire soon after it started,” Oren wrote. “We hiked up to Skull Rock and smelled smoke as we were hanging. We quickly had to run for our lives.”
The footage quickly gained traction online.
Social media users jumped to conclusions, accusing the hikers of various roles in starting the fire. Some labeled them arsonists or speculated about ulterior motives, such as promoting climate change awareness.
One person said: Theoretically it’s possible a discarded glass bottle acted as a magnifying glass
A second wrote: I also saw footage of a transformer and wires sparking in the high winds.
While a third commented: I know you are gonna try to pin this on Luigi but dude has an airtight alibi!!!
Another added: I’ve seen the full video it was behind them. The fire started closer to a backyard. The only reason this video is out there is because these boys barely escaped. Had they run the opposite direction who knows.
In the comments section, comedian Rob Schneider amplified the situation by asking his followers to help identify the men, leading to intense scrutiny and accusations against the hikers.
Beni Oren defended himself in the comments, saying, “I know we didn’t start the fire. The video might look bad, but it proves nothing.”
However, the backlash escalated. Facing online abuse, Oren and his friends deleted their social media profiles to escape the negativity.
What actually happened during the hike
Kai Cranmore, who filmed the clip, shared details with Backpack Magazine. The group was meditating when they noticed smoke 45 meters away.
“We were sitting cross-legged, meditating, and enjoying the hike,” Cranmore recalled. “Then my friend said, ‘I smell smoke.’”
Looking up, they saw a thick plume of smoke rising over the hill. The group fled immediately, capturing the harrowing moment on video.
The fire, which ignited shortly after, scorched 24,000 acres, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and claimed eight lives. Despite firefighters’ relentless efforts, only 14% of the blaze has been contained.
Wild theories and conspiracy speculation
The video’s emergence spurred a wave of conspiracy theories online. Some speculated the hikers were promoting a climate change agenda, while others suggested they were part of a covert operation.
A few users even connected the footage to bizarre claims about Covid-19 vaccinations.
More grounded accusations alleged that the hikers may have caused the fire accidentally by improperly discarding smoking materials. However, Cranmore clarified, “Nobody in our group smokes. We were just there to meditate and enjoy the trail.”
Reactions to the video were polarized. Many accused the hikers of wrongdoing, while some came to their defense.
Supporters argued that if they were guilty of arson, they wouldn’t have shared the video publicly. Others pointed out the lack of direct evidence tying the group to the fire’s ignition.
The investigations are ongoing.