About

The 2023 Hawaii Wildfires Started By Laser and Blue Roof, Blue Umbrellas, Blue Cars refer to a conspiracy theory claiming that the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii (predominantly on the island of Maui) were started by a government space laser or Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) in order to build a "smart city" over the destroyed island. The theory claims that objects colored blue were spared from the laser, which was allegedly set to a wavelength that made it ineffective on objects of that color, with images of blue umbrellas and cars that are seemingly less burned and damaged by the fires presented as supposed evidence. Throughout August 2023, online conspiracy theorists shared the theory, with several purported videos claiming to show the laser hitting Hawaii going viral. Some people also claimed that The Simpsons predicted the event in an episode in which it showed a blue statue standing among the town that was destroyed by the sun's rays, although this has been debunked.

Origin

Precursor

The conspiracy theory that people in power use space lasers fired by DEWs (Directed Energy Weapons) to cause forest fires has been perpetuated online since as early as 2018.^[1][2] In mid-November 2018, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene notably supported the theory online, suggesting a "Jewish space laser" started the California wildfires.

2023 Hawaii Wildfires

Around August 8th, 2023, wildfires in Hawaii, particularly on the island of Maui, began to receive increasing news coverage. The fires caused evacuations and widespread damage, killing over 100 people and causing over 800 to go missing.^[3] As early as August 9th, online conspiracy theorists began sharing the claim that a space laser started the wildfires in Hawaii, with several posts made to X^[4][5] sharing these claims that day.

Some theorists claimed the fires were started by a laser so the government could build a smart city on the rubble. One of the earliest known posts claiming this was made by Instagram^[6] user for_our_rights_kauai that day, garnering over 4,000 likes in two weeks sharing images from the fires and writing:

Here is the crazy truth that no one really wants to admit: this is an attack! None of this is normal or NATURAL. The reason why our climate is changing is because it's being MANIPULATED.

➡️ Aluminum particulates are dispersed through weather modification practices. Aluminum acts as a conductor to produce immense heat. Combine that with dry brush, a fire starter and high winds and you have a recipe for disaster.

Don't be surprised when they "Build Back Better" with their Smart Cities!! All in the name of "saving" us from "climate change".

Hundreds injured, close to 100 now confirmed dead, thousands displaced Our hearts go out to all those suffering on Maui and the Big Island in the wake of this tragedy.

Spread

As early as August 10th, 2023, people began sharing images online purportedly showing a laser hitting Hawaii from space. For example, the image was shared by X^[7][8] users @Mahmood88239370 and @CBKNEWS121 that day, the latter garnering over 6,900 likes in two weeks (shown below). X attached a community note to the image debunking it, claiming it is actually a photo of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force base. On August 11th, Forbes^[9] reported on the growing conspiracy theory.

The Simpsons Prediction

On August 15th, 2023, people began sharing a video from The Simpsons episode "Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus," claiming it predicted the Hawaii forest fires. Many shared a now-deleted recording of the clip by TikToker @el_informantemayor. The clip depicts a ray of sun reflecting off a newly erected statue in the town and burning everything (shown below). That day, Snopes^[12] debunked the claim.

An episode of the Simpsons showed you a Direct Energy Weapon attack, similar to Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/vVzjjV2iMx

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) August 15, 2023

Blue Shield (Blue Cars, Blue Umbrellas)

Around August 17th, 2023, conspiracy theorists began sharing the claim that objects colored blue were protected from the DEW, suggesting the DEW was set to a wavelength that stopped blue objects from being affected by it. TikToker^[10][11] @activateyourpinealgland posted numerous videos on the subject starting that day, sharing videos and images of blue umbrellas and cars that she claims are less damaged than the surrounding scenery as evidence of this, some gaining between hundreds of thousands and millions of views (viral examples shown below).

As early as August 20th, 2023, conspiracy theorists began sharing a now-deleted TikTok video of a laser firing on various colored clothes, showcasing how the laser does not burn the blue cloth when set to a certain wavelength. On that day, TikToker^[13] @artielebedev shared the video, garnering over 3 million views in three days (shown below, left).

Also that day, TikToker^[14] @hypsy217 linked the theory back to The Simpsons clip, since the statue is shown covered by a blue tarp, garnering over 3.9 million views in the same span of time (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References