False charges of “arson” have become a common response to wildfire reports–and that disinformation increasingly frustrates wildfire scientists and emergency service providers, reports the Northern Beat.
Lightning–NOT arson–causes the vast majority of wildfire damage in BC, notes the story, “Wildfire of rumours: Finding truth in dangerous times.”
“In fact, figures obtained by Northern Beat show arson or suspicious fires accounted for fewer than five percent of all wildfires reported by the BC Wildfire Service from 2013 to 2023, and only .05 per cent of total hectares burned,“ it says.
“Nor does arson seem to be on the increase,” the story adds. “Last year, arson and suspicious fires accounted for 2.4 percent of all incidents reported to the BCWS, and only 271 hectares of a record 2,842,296 hectares burned, or .009 per cent.”
Northern Beat features an interview with Jilly Laviolette, who runs the popular Facebook site, BC Wildfire Updates, Resources and Photos Page, who says “the misinformation online spreads, I swear, faster than facts.” The page posts up-to-date reports on wildfires, evacuations, road closures, power outages, and emergency services–and administrators deletes conspiracy theorist posts.
The disinformation is “ frustrating,” John Paolozzi, a communications officer with the BC Wildfire Service, told Northern Beat,
Those who are helping to spread rumours about arson and accuse “eco-terrorists” of starting fires include Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, the National Post newspaper reported last year. It added, “in really fringe corners of the internet” posters claim fires are caused by “directed energy weapons.”
Arson has indeed been a recent problem elsewhere in Canada—but there’s a twist. “A Canadian man who posted conspiracy theories on social media claiming the government was deliberately starting wildfires has pleaded guilty to starting 14 blazes that forced hundreds of people from their homes,” CNN reported early this year.
CNN reported that the arsonist, Brian Paré, admitted in a Quebec court to 13 counts of arson, and one count of arson with a disregard for human life. “According to police evidence, the accused posted a lot of conspiracy theories about the fires and the government’s involvement in possibly setting those fires.”
Read the story by Jeff Davis in Northern Beat here:
https://northernbeat.ca/news/wildfire-of-rumours-finding-truth-in-dangerous-times/
You can find the Facebook page, BC Wildfire Updates, Resources and Photos, here.
Read the CNN report on the conspiracy theory arsonist here: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/climate/canada-conspiracy-theorist-arson-wildfires-intl/index.html
Read the National Post story here: https://nationalpost.com/news/are-eco-terrorists-causing-all-the-fires
