AI-Generated Fire Image Sparks Panic and Evacuation at Texas High School

AI Photo of Fake Fire Causes Panic at Texas High School

A high school in Texas evacuated on Monday due to a fire alarm, something many students initially assumed was just a drill, according to local news station ABC13 Houston. But after an AI-generated image circulated appearing to show part of the school on fire, the situation caused confusion and panic among students and parents. The fire alarm at Bellaire High School went off around 9:00 a.m. local time, according to ABC13, and kids did what they often do in that situation: They walked to Starbucks and local stores to kill time. But then the principal reportedly sent out a message to parents saying there was smoke in the athletic wing. After that, an AI image showing the school on fire spread through "social media," according to ABC13, though it's not clear which platform. Gizmodo was unable to find such an image on TikTok, X, or Instagram, the places where these things most commonly spread. The image was also shared on "messaging apps." Parents then called police and the school district looking for answers. The Bellaire Police Department wrote a message on Facebook explaining that the image was fake. "We want to clarify that there is NO fire at Bellaire High School. A fake social media post with an AI-generated image showing the school on fire is circulating online," Bellaire Police wrote at 9:49 a.m. local time. "Please know that all students and staff are safe. We appreciate everyone’s concern and ask that you help stop the spread of misinformation by sharing this official update," the Facebook post continued. The Bellaire Fire Department responded to the scene and wrote its own message to Facebook explaining that there was some smoke discovered in the school, but it was from an HVAC system. There was no massive fire, as had apparently been depicted in the AI image that spread among students and parents. "Upon arrival, crews found no visible smoke or fire from the exterior. Engine 33 began investigating the source of the alarm in the rear section of the school. Inside, crews located a small amount of smoke near a locker area and determined the source to be a refrigerant junction box connected to the HVAC system," the Fire Department wrote. "An HISD HVAC technician confirmed the issue as a refrigerant leak. Out of an abundance of caution, the Houston Fire Department Hazmat Team was requested to assist. Units from Hazmat 22, District 22, and District 28 arrived and determined that the levels present were not hazardous to occupants but recommended that the area remain vacant until HVAC repairs could be completed." It's unclear where the AI-generated image of the fire originated. A new state law in Texas that went into effect in September forbids students from using phones during class time, which meant that a lot of parents who were concerned about the AI-generated images couldn't immediately contact their kids. Bellaire High School principal Michael Niggli referred questions to the school district press office but Gizmodo didn't receive a response to questions about the incident. The Bellaire Fire Department also didn't respond to questions Tuesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.

AI Photo of a Fire Sparks Panic at High School

An AI-generated image sparked confusion and concern at Bellaire High School in Houston yesterday after a picture falsely showing the school on fire circulated on social media. According to local media reports, the school's fire alarm went off shortly after 9 AM, prompting an evacuation. The Houston Fire Department and Bellaire Fire Department responded to the scene and found no visible fire, though a small amount of smoke was detected near a locker area linked to the school's ventilation system. The issue was later determined to be a freon leak. While crews assessed the situation, students and staff waited outside. Around that time, an image began spreading online depicting flames coming from the building's roof. Investigators later confirmed that the image had been generated by artificial intelligence. "There is no fire at Bellaire High School," the City of Bellaire said in a Facebook post. "There is a fake social media post circulating with an AI-generated picture of the school on fire. All students are safe." The image quickly caused panic among parents and students, with several families contacting police and district officials. The Bellaire Police Department says it received multiple calls from worried parents and later confirmed that the photo was fake. "A fake social media post with an AI-generated image showing the school on fire is circulating online. Please know that all students and staff are safe," the department adds. Students were allowed back into the building once the fire department confirmed there was no danger. The principal sent messages to parents throughout the morning, initially mentioning "smoke in the athletic wing," then later addressing confusion about an unauthorized message referencing an "odor" in the building. He described the mix-up as a "communication loophole" that had been resolved. The district said classes resumed later that day once the building was cleared. No injuries were reported. The incident underlines the malign influence AI images can play during an emergency. Generative AI models like Nano Banana and Midjourney can create such realistic pictures that even technologically-informed individuals can confuse them with real photos. A similar incident happened in Canada a few months ago when the B.C Wildfire Service was forced to put out a statement about a surge in AI-generated wildfire images circulating on social media, warning that they can mislead people during emergencies.

A social media post showed a Texas high school on fire, sparking concern from parents. Police say it was AI.

A photo showing a Texas high school on fire that sparked concern among the community was generated by artificial intelligence, local authorities said -- and experts are now emphasizing the necessity for schools to be "better prepared" to address the potential threats of AI-generated images. Officials in Bellaire, Texas, emphasized that there was no fire at Bellaire High School, although the fire department was called to the school on Monday when a fire alarm went off. "We want to clarify that there is NO fire at Bellaire High School," the Bellaire Police Department said in a statement on Monday. The incident occurred on Monday morning just as students were arriving to Bellaire High School for the day when the "fire alarm sounded due to what was later determined to be a freon leak," the Houston Independent School District said in a statement to ABC News. Despite fire officials determining the issue to be a refrigerant leak, police said later the fake image began spreading online, causing concern from parents and members of the community. "A fake social media post with an AI-generated image showing the school on fire is circulating online," police said. "Please know that all students and staff are safe. We appreciate everyone's concern and ask you help stop the spread of misinformation by sharing this official update." Neither police or the school district would confirm when the image began circulating online. While there have been similar instances in the past -- like when verified accounts shared fake images falsely claiming there was an explosion at the Pentagon in 2023 -- government and non-government organizations, including schools, are "behind the curve when it comes to dealing with AI-generated or AI-enhanced threats," according to John Cohen, ABC News contributor and former acting undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security. "Just like schools are prepared for active shooter situations and, in the past, prepared students for bomb threats and fire, unfortunately in the age we are living in, schools also have to be prepared to deal with AI-generated content that is meant to disrupt activities or cause problems within the school environment," Cohen said. Jeffrey McGregor, the CEO of Truepic, a software company that helps businesses authenticate visuals and block AI manipulation, said he is "deeply concerned" about the potential threats AI could pose to schools. "You have the most powerful AI in the hands of every single internet-connected human, including high school students. The ability to generate completely synthetic and highly realistic images is now immediately available to everyone," McGregor told ABC News. If schools are able to maintain awareness of how technology can be used to "sow discord," develop plans with local law enforcement and to regularly practice those plans, Cohen said schools will be able to "rapidly counteract" these AI-generated threats and "prevent panic." While Cohen emphasized the importance of government and non-government organizations, including schools, needing to "do a better job being prepared" on the potential threats from AI, he also recommended students and parents always be skeptical about content until it can be verified by a trusted source. Until there is some kind of an internet-wide solution where consumers can immediately know whether content is real or AI-generated, McGregor had one piece of advice: "No one should believe what they see anymore." "Until technology is able to catch up a bit and provide some of these indicators as to the trustworthiness of imagery, people should flat-out not believe the photos and videos that they are looking at," McGregor said.