Firefighters can see that human-induced climate change is making fire seasons longer and more intense.
However, during big fires, such as the current ones devastating large areas around Los Angeles — where there is much social media coverage and commentary — right-wing and conservative commentators seek to downplay links to climate change.
The misinformation campaign around the LA fires is especially intense, with conservatives such as United States President-elect Donald Trump, comedian Joe Rogan and billionaire Elon Musk claiming the link to climate change is overstated.
Some of their commentary is deranged and damaging. For instance, Musk posted that “DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] means people DIE”.
In a now-deleted post, he agreed with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ claim that the fires are part of “a globalist plot to wage economic warfare” and reindustrialise the United States.
Actor Mel Gibson even questioned whether the terrible fires may have been “commissioned” to move people off valuable property. (This is a frequent theme of some conspiracy theorists — that disasters like hurricanes are being engineered to remove people from their land.)
For instance, after Hurricane Helene, claims were made that politicians “manipulated the weather” to target Republican areas and that the government was trying to force people to leave their homes so it could seize land in North Carolina to mine lithium.
The misinformation is amplified in Australia through programs like Sky After Dark on Sky News.
The dominant narratives coming from conservatives include claims that:
- The fires are the result of the DEI polices of the LA Fire Department. Of course, attacks on DEI are thinly veiled attacks on women and minorities.
- The California government prioritised a native fish species over needing water for fire fighting.
- Environmentalists are to blame because they had stopped fuel reduction burning.
- There is a “globalist” agenda which seeks to force people from their homes and the fires were created for this purpose.
- Homeless people started the fires.
In times of crisis, we need to stick together and do what needs to be done. That means getting on with fighting fires.
We send our best wishes to our colleagues in California who are fighting these terrible fires, and all the crews that have been assisting — from Mexico to Canada.
Speak up
Firefighters know full well about the link between climate change and longer and more intense fire seasons. We need to speak up and challenge this disinformation wherever we see it.
People trust us because of our experience in fighting fires and commitment to defend our communities from harm. Please challenge the misinformation and disinformation wherever you can.
We have created a list of resources to assist you, including: the podcast The Hotshot wake up; Pod save America; The wilfire climate connection; Yes, climate change is raising the risks — and stakes — of extreme wildfires; Six facts about water and wildfire in the West; and there are more.
It is shameful that Trump is attempting to score political points by attacking the Democratic Governor of California and that conservative commentators have used the disaster to attack their political opponents.
But it is to be expected in such a polarised world.
[Cam Walker is a volunteer firefighter and long-term climate activist working with Friends of the Earth. A version of this article, posted by Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance was removed from Facebook by Meta.]