FACT CHECK: No, This Image Does Not Show A McDonald’s Burnt Down During Los Angeles Wildfires

An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows a McDonald’s destroyed by the wildfires in Los Angeles, California.  

Verdict: False

This image is miscaptioned. It actually shows the aftermath of a fire from 2018 in the northern California town of Paradise.

Fact Check:

House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to put restrictions on aid being given to California after wildfires have caused widespread destruction around the Los Angeles area, according to The Hill. Johnson made remarks criticizing California’s state and local leaders for what he believes is “water resource mismanagement” and “forest management mistakes,” the outlet reported.

A Facebook image allegedly shows the remnants of a McDonald’s location that was burnt down by the fires. “This is a McDonalds in California that was just destroyed by a forest fire,” the caption reads. “You can see the forest said to be responsible in the background. Just dew it.” (RELATED: Did The Los Angeles Fire Department Request Help From ‘Anyone With Firefighting Experience’?)

The photo is miscaptioned, however. The image was originally taken by a photographer for the Associated Press in 2018, years prior to the recent Los Angeles fires. “A sign still stands at a McDonald’s restaurant burned in the Camp Fire, Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, in the northern California town of Paradise. (AP Photo/John Locher),” the caption reads. 

The image was also featured in a news article by the outlet WHYY reporting that a fire in Northern California killed at least 42 people. The fire went on to claim 85 lives in total, according to AP News.