FACT CHECK: Does Viral Video Depict Wyoming Elk Fire?

Alexia Bianchi | Contributor

A post made on X claims to depict wildlife running from the ongoing Wyoming Elk Fire.

Verdict: False

The video was originally posted in 2021 and depicts a Montana fire.

Fact Check:

The Elk Fire has now been affecting Wyoming and Bighorn National Forest for almost two weeks. The massive fire is close to 75,000 acres in size and has caused multiple roads to shut down, according to Oil City News.

A post made on X claims to depict wildlife running from the ongoing Elk Fire. The caption reads, “🚨#BREAKING: Half of Wyoming is BURNING right now! I bet you didn’t hear a peep about it, did you? ⚠️You’ll never guess what they’re going after now! ⚠️Nearly 73,000 acres of the Bighorn National Forest are now on fire.”

The claim is false. The video was originally posted to YouTube in 2021 and depicts elk fleeing a Montana fire. The video’s description reads, “A trio of elk was filmed running along a fence line as the animals attempted to flee encroaching flames from the PF Fire in Montana’s Big Horn County.” (RELATED: Video Shared Online As Israel Under Attack Actually Shows Poland and Algeria)

The post’s caption claims that half of Wyoming is burning. This claim is also false. The Elk Fire fire is around 75,000 acres in size. Wyoming spans over 62 million acres, according to the Congressional Research Service. There is no credible evidence that shows the Elk Fire is causing half of Wyoming to burn.

Alexia Bianchi

Contributor

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