Maui fires, arson?

It's highly likely that the Maui fires were started by arsonists. The landscape and the weather was perfect for such an incident. Remember, we are in a global war and, like the Canadian and Greek fires, the Maui fire would show that no area is exempt from such an attack. The beauty of it is that such attacks can be staged to appear perfectly natural in origin and therefore brings no retribution from the attacked victims. Such attacks are far cheaper than brute military force. In all probability we can expect an increase in such incidents.

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JSul3 · 70-79

Why do wildfires often ignite a firestorm of conspiracy theories?

Experts say false information and misleading images shared after Maui fires can exploit people's emotions

Nick Logan - CBC News

Posted: August 16, 2023

It's yet to be determined what exactly ignited the ferocious wildfires that ravaged Maui and destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina last week, but online conspiracy theorists have plenty of thoughts about how — and why — the deadliest fires in Hawaii's history were started.

Conditions were already ripe for wildfires, with a combination of persistent dry weather and drought, when Maui was hit with powerful winds on Aug. 8, sending flames racing across swaths of the island.

But the tragedy has spurred social media posts that would have you believe that it was a laser beam from space that sparked the devastating blaze or that the disaster may be a part of a land grab or a sinister ploy to develop a 15-minute city on the tropical island — familiar conspiracy theories that have thrived in times of disaster.

There is no proof any of these are true — often they can easily be debunked — but theories like these can thrive in times of uncertainty after a disaster strikes, say experts, as people try to make sense of a tense and emotional situation and anxiously look for a cause to pinpoint.

"Everybody is susceptible to mis- and disinformation, but in different ways and for different reasons," said Samantha Bradshaw, an assistant professor at the school of international service at American University in Washington, D.C.

But wildfires in particular, she said, present a unique opportunity for rumours and false narratives to spread.

"They are just so visible and so devastating and so violent in their effects, it's really hard for people to not pay attention to news about them."

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@JSul3 Have you already forgotten about the idiots who wouldn't sound the sirens or release the water for the fire department to use to put out the fires? Better watch their bank accounts.

The greedy lawyers want to snag the electric company for an easy payday. The fire department had extinguished the initial fire but they couldn't get enough water to cool down the hot spots. Guess whose fault that was?

JSul3 · 70-79

@Diotrephes It has been well documented.