Overview

• The BC Wildfire Service this week flagged two dramatic AI-generated aerial views falsely depicting the Drought Hill fire, noting mismatches in terrain, fire size and behavior.
• Experts at Concordia University’s Applied AI Institute and freelance photojournalists identified telltale signs of fabrication such as misaligned helicopter blades, inconsistent lighting and painterly textures.
• Social media accounts labeled “AI art” have circulated fabricated wildfire scenes, with some posts later appended with disclaimers after user scrutiny.
• With airspace restrictions limiting authentic wildfire photography, officials emphasize that social media visuals may be unreliable during emergencies.
• The wildfire service recommends using its official app, emergency alert system and reputable news outlets for accurate disaster updates as AI forgeries grow more sophisticated.