Claim: Directed energy weapons caused fires in Paradise, California, and Lahaina, Hawaii.
Fact-check: No evidence directed energy weapons caused fires in Hawaii and California - Full Fact
Verdict: there is no evidence to support this. the 2018 fire in california started as a result of a fallen power line. while no cause has yet been determined for the fire in hawaii, some experts have suggested it may have started in a similar way, with dry conditions and high winds causing the fire to spread very rapidly.
Organisation: Full Fact
Author: Sarah Turnnidge
Date published: 2023-08-16T00:00:00