Is the photo of the Hollywood sign on fire real or fake? Viral image debunked amid raging fires 

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley informed the press about a new brush fire in Hollywood Hills that broke out on Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. This brush fire called the Sunset Fire, reportedly started in the Runyon Canyon area along the hills.

Witnesses posted pictures and videos of the fire which apparently erupted too close to the famous Hollywood sign on Mount Lee, amidst the Santa Monica mountains. One image was circulated online, depicting the sign as ablaze.

However, the image is not real but generated using AI as seen from the Grok AI watermark visible on the bottom right of the picture. Another giveaway is the presence of an extra letter in the sign.

A second picture claiming the same was also shared which didn't contain the Grok watermark, further confusing some netizens.

Viral image claims the famous sign on Mount Lee is on fire. (Image via X/@Antunes1)

Regardless, the second image has also been debunked as several other X accounts shared a webcam image where the sign was seen unscathed.

Raw Reporting wrote in a separate tweet:

"The current fire is approximately 2.3 miles away from the iconic Hollywood sign. Images circulating online of the sign smoldering or on fire are fake."

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Images of the Hollywood sign on fire are not real

One of the videos of the Sunset fire shared on X shows the fire coloring the horizon crimson while thick smoke clouds the area.

The fire department issued an alert following the breakout:

"Evacuate now from the area of Runyon Canyon. Those not in the evacuation area should shelter in place. Evacuation order for Sunset Fire."

The fire was reported to have spread over 20 acres at the time of writing this article. It was moving towards the hiking trails along the area and the mansions on Hollywood Boulevard.

However, the sign, built in 1923 remains unaffected by the blazing fire.

Another X account @rawsalerts confirmed:

"The Hollywood sign is not on fire, even though a new fire has started. Numerous news accounts and other pages are sharing fake AI-generated images claiming otherwise."

Seven wildfires have been reported in Los Angeles County since Tuesday so far. These brush fires caused severe damage to some of the residential areas and small businesses.

Multiple celebrities including Paris Hilton, James Woods, Eugene Levy, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, Billy, and Janice Crystal have lost their respective LA homes in the fire.

Many, including Jamie Lee Curtis, and Mark Hamill were compelled to evacuate.