Los Angeles is Burning: Social Media Apathy in Response to LA Wildfires
By: Beth Petrunak
The world watched from their screens as Los Angeles County faced devastating wildfires from all sides. In a moment that required us to come together, some took to social media to add fuel to the flames.
I was sitting at my computer finishing work for the day when I got the notification for the newest fire to wreak havoc on LA. The Sunset fire started in the Hollywood Hills, not far from my apartment. My roommate and I ran outside to find neighbors scrambling in the dark, grabbing cats, boxes of memorabilia, and suitcases while packing their cars. It didn’t take us long to find out why. All we had to do was look up. We were paralyzed in awe and horror as the wall of flames moved down the hills.
My mind was racing as I called my family on the East Coast, asking them what I should do. Was now the time to leave? Should we wait for evacuation orders? What should be in my go-bag? I opened my phone looking for community-shared resources on Instagram or TikTok but was overwhelmed by random strangers’ “hot takes” on the fires, claiming the fires were karma for the rich and elite living in the Pacific Palisades. I could potentially lose everything I have, and the internet seemed to believe I deserved it.
Conspiracy Theorists and DEI
Fake news seemed to spread as fast as the wildfires. TikTok was full of conspiracy theorists crawling out of the woodwork to question how one home could be burned to the ground, while the other right next to it could be left intact. I’m not going to explain to you how fires work, but needless to say, that isn’t unusual, especially given the added unpredictable nature of hurricane-strength winds.
Instagram picture from @losangelesfiredepartment
Right-wing media couldn’t help themselves from using this tragedy to further blame DEI. Various conservative media commentators from Fox News to Elon Musk blamed Kristin Crowley, LA’s first woman and LGBTQ+ Fire Chief for implementing DEI training for LA firefighters because there’s no way you can be respectful in the workplace and put out fires.
The Things We Lost
Despite what the world seems to think, Los Angeles is not a monolith. While it is known for Hollywood and some of the world’s most well-known reality TV stars, it is also home to over nine million people. LA is a diverse city, geographically and culturally, with people from every race and class. The wealthy are not the only victims of these fires. The Eaton fire tore through Altadena, a historically Black and middle-class community, where almost half of all Black households/units were destroyed or majorly damaged by the fires. Many of these homeowners had not paid off their mortgages yet.
The sentiment across social media seemed to be, “They’ll be fine, they’re rich.” While it’s true that some wealthy people will be able to rebuild without extreme financial hardship, money will not heal the city or those who lost their homes. Where is our empathy for those who lost family heirlooms and items of sentimental value? Husband and wife Steve Lubanski and Candace Frazee lost their lifelong project and cultural institution, The Bunny Museum, to the Eaton fire. Over 46,000 objects were lost in the fire. This was not only their livelihood and a beloved staple of the Altadena community, but also their life’s work. There is no amount of money that can replace the stories and memories that lived in each of those bunnies.
Instagram picture from @losangelesfiredepartment
Where Do We Go From Here?
Despite the negativity online, the community in Los Angeles came together in inspiring ways to help those affected by the wildfires. Restaurants offered free food to emergency responders and those who lost their homes. Residents came together to donate water, food, clothes, and other essentials to the community. Local businesses and companies based in LA pledged money and products, as well as promised to help rebuild homes when the time comes. While some of the world outside of Los Angeles may have seen the wildfires as some sick justice, it allowed community care and organizing to thrive even under the most stressful and devastating of conditions.
To help those affected by the LA wildfires, check out these resources and donation sites:
Altadena Girls: https://www.altadenagirls.org/
It’s Bigger Than Us: https://www.itsbiggerthanusla.org/
Hollywood Food Coalition: https://hofoco.org/
