In January 2025, Los Angeles experienced several major wildfires. During the fires, I saw a claim online saying that the famous Hollywood Sign was on fire, and there were also a pictures and videos showing flames around the sign. Because the fires in Los Angeles were real and some of them were close to Hollywood, the claim looked possible at first.
However, I was not sure if the images were real. The Hollywood Sign is one of the most famous landmarks in LA, so I thought that if it was actually burning, many major news outlets would be reporting it.
Step 1: Stop and Look at the Claim
The first step was to stop before believing or sharing the image. The picture was very dramatic, which was already a reason for me to be careful.
PolitiFact reported that an Instagram post said, “The iconic Hollywood sign is on fire.” Similar images were also shared on Facebook and other social media platforms.
At this point, I did not know if the claim was true or false. I only knew that I needed more information.
PolitiFact: Hollywood Sign fact check
Step 2: Search for Other News Reports
Next, I left the original claim and searched for other news reports about the Hollywood Sign and the fires. Instead of only studying the original post, I checked what other sources were reporting.
I found that there really was a fire in the Hollywood Hills called the Sunset Fire. According to CAL FIRE, it started on January 8, 2025, and burned about 43 acres.
This was important because the social media claim was connected to a real event. The fire was real, but that doesn’t mean the Hollywood Sign was burning.
Step 3: Check Local News
Then I looked at local news coverage. The Los Angeles Times reported that firefighters reached 100% containment of the Sunset Fire on January 9. The fire caused evacuations in Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, so it was definitely a serious situation.
However, the Los Angeles Times did not report that the Hollywood Sign had burned. This was another red flag for the viral images. If such a famous landmark had actually caught fire, I would expect local news to report it clearly.
Los Angeles Times: Sunset Fire coverage
Step 4: Find a Fact-Check
Next, I found an AFP fact-check about the same images. AFP reported that the pictures and videos showing the Hollywood Sign surrounded by flames were fake, and also photographed the sign on January 9 and showed that it was still standing and had not burned.
AFP Fact Check: Viral Hollywood Sign images are fake
Step 5: Compare Different Sources
Finally, I compared all of the information. CAL FIRE confirmed that the Sunset Fire was real. The Los Angeles Times confirmed that there was a dangerous fire in the Hollywood Hills. But AFP and PolitiFact both found that the images showing the Hollywood Sign burning were false. All those sourses helped me understand how misinformation can be difficult to recognize. The fake images were connected to a real disaster, which made them more believable.
Conclusion
My conclusion is that the claim that the Hollywood Sign burned during the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires was false. The wildfires were real, and there really was a fire near Hollywood, but the viral images of the Hollywood Sign burning were fake.
This example showed me why it is important to check information during breaking news. When something major is happening, real information and false information can spread at the same time. A picture can also look realistic even when it was created by AI. Instead of trusting one post, I think people should stop and check for more information, taking a few extra minutes to prevent sharing misinformation.
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