Is it true that the video shows a dancing deputy chief fireman California?

In January 2025, a video was encouraged in Runet, which allegedly captures the deputy head of the fire service of the American state, where fires were raging. We checked the authenticity of this record.

In numerous posts in social networks, the viral 26-second video is signed something like this: “Nothing unusual, the deputy chief fireman California is just dancing on the stage.” The authors of some publications left additional comments. For example, in the Telegram channel Voblya (159,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) said: "All degradation of pendosia in one video." "Are there any questions, what's wrong with the extinguishing of fires?" - added the channel Rus_criminal (131,000 views). Apparently, the authors of such posts believe that firefighters should not engage in ballet, and support the narrative, according to which firefighters in the United States are hired, based on the principles of diversity and inclusiveness, and not their professionalism. But it seems that not everyone shares such an opinion. For example, a similar entry on "Picabu"(17,000 views) received 135 comments, where the vast majority of users have positively appreciated the hobbies of the alleged firefighter.

According to the TGSTAT service, at the time of writing this analysis, more than 330 Russian -language posts on this topic appeared, in total, who had gained 2.5 million views. Video with similar signatures posted channels "Uncle Glory"(223,000),"Bottle"(171 000),"Ivan Utenkov"(158 000),"Gossip"(110 000),"The first folk"(107 000),"Mishovets Yegor"(86 000),"Tin of the day"(86 000),"Gasparyan"(85,000) and others. Posts about the dancing fireman are found on VKontakte (examples here, here And here), Instagram*, Threads* And Livejournal. In addition, similar publications apply to Italian, English and other languages.

From January 7, 2025, large -scale fires have been raging in South California, destroying thousands of residential buildings and other buildings. By the time this analysis is written, it is known that Died at least 27 people, even more than 30 They are listed missing. At the same time, a natural disaster Accompanied numerous fakes and misinformation.

Facts from the Georgian project "Detector of myths" Installed The personality of a person captured on a viral video. It turned out to be dancer Kuadio Davis originally From the city of Oneont in the state of New York. In 2024 in article The New York Times was mentioned as a member of the Harlem dance ballet troupe in the city of New York. According to the profile of the artist on site This theater, Davis is a professional dancer who studied in ballet schools and participated in dance competitions.

Davis actively leads page On Instagram, where he regularly shares with 17,000 subscribers videos of his training and performances. A video that has become viral against the backdrop of fires in California, dancer Published On January 3, with the hashtag #balletaddiction ( #ballet dependence). The fact that Davis is in parallel with the New York Theater works as deputy head of the Fire Department of California, in his profile and other sources “verified” did not discover.

The current director of the department of forestry and fire protection of California is Joe Tyler, who has worked there for more than 30 years and assigned To this position on March 4, 2022. On the official website of the Department there is chapterin which the leadership of the department is represented. According to him, the first deputy Tyler - Anali Berlyawho began his career in the fire service in 1998. The list also indicates other deputy directors in different directions, but Kuadio Davis is not mentioned among them.

Previously, English -speaking speakers of the right, including a billionaire Ilon Musk, they called one of the main causes of destructive fires in California the policy of Dei (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; “Diversity, equality and inclusiveness”-English) during the recruitment of firefighters in this state (in particular, in Los Angeles). The Russian Telegram channels, Media And TV presenters, including Vladimir Solovyov.

Experienced fireman Mike Bizati, Heading The Council of the Board of Fire Association for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, Comments for National Public Radio also saidthat does not believe in the DEI connection with the spread of forest fires. “Not a single fire department will sacrifice training and fundamental measures to combat fires for the sake of DEI training,” Bizli said, noting that inclusive teams do better with difficult tasks, work in stressful situations and strengthen the confidence of society during emergency situations. In his opinion, fires will be able to put out only when extreme winds will begin to subside: “There are no so many people who will stop all fires in the midst of the hot and dry season, taking into account climate drying. It simply does not exist. With such winds Santa-Ana You just need to remove people from the road. ” Bizli said that this disaster should cause discussions by many those, including climate change, water resources management, housing construction, etc. On the lack of personnel and water, as well as about strong winds They said and other experts and heads of departments.

The earliest publication with a viral video accompanied by a false explanation was “verified” in the Telegram channel of the Russian edition Avia.pro (21,000 views). There the post will appear on January 11, 2025 at 12:56 pm Moscow time. However, we cannot exclude that there are more old records (including foreign language) that could not be found.

Thus, the viral video is not captured by the deputy chief fireman California, but by a professional dancer from New York, who published a video in his social networks. “Verified” has already disassembled several other false messages about California fires. Among them are fake photos and videos that are supposedly captured Dark Marauders, embraced by the flame Hollywood sign and burned down "Oscar". In addition, we refuted the publications according to which firefighters Los Angeles extinguished fire, gaining water in Ladies handbagsand the flame in California cannot be extinguished, since there was a fire equipment Sent to Ukraine.

*Russian authorities They think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns social networks Instagram and Threads, an extremist organization, its activities and symbolism in Russia are prohibited.

Photo on the cover: @yung_x_lois (Instagram)

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

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