From the London Telegraph:
Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles were caused by a “direct energy weapon” attack designed to erode humanity and implement “15-minute cities”, according to bizarre conspiracy theories spreading on social media.
The theory was sparked by a clip that appeared to show an object flying across the sky during the LA wildfires. Internet conspiracy theorists sought to draw comparisons between the ongoing wildfires and a blaze that destroyed 80 per cent of the city of Lahaina in Maui County, Hawaii. One user wrote on X: “This has Maui written all over it.” Another said: “Same script, different location! How [heartbreak emoji] for those poor people.”