Amid the raging fires in California, local news outlets delivered a barrage of reports on the government failures that exacerbated the deadly disaster.

An attempted fact-check by one anchor at a Fox News affiliate in Los Angeles was almost immediately refuted by a reporter on the scene who delivered an embarrassing reality check.

Melvin Robert, anchor at “Good Day LA,” seemed to offer up a fact-check after a phone call with former mayoral candidate, Rick Caruso, who called out Los Angeles officials for not being better prepared for the deadly blazes.

This news anchor tried to come to the defense of elected Democrats by claiming that Rick Caruso was wrong about firefighters not having water to put out fires but then the reporter on the ground jumps in to confirm that there’s NO WATER.

This is criminal. pic.twitter.com/dzDMrXIy00

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 9, 2025

“We’ve got to have water. And my understanding is that the reservoir was not refilled in time and in a timely manner to keep the hydrants going,” the real estate developer said.

“It’s all about leadership and management,” he added, calling it a “failure” on the part of city and state officials. “And all of these residents are paying the ultimate price for that.”

Robert then told viewers, “Despite what you’ve heard from Caruso, no firefighters have told us that they are running out of water.”

A moment later, the show turned to reporter Gigi Graciette who was on the scene at Pacific Palisades where fires continued to rage.

“Well, firefighters have told me they have no water on this block,” she said.

“They have no water to put on this fire,” she said as the camera panned to a burning house she said would be a “total loss.”

The timing of Graciette’s report left many on social media wondering if it was a direct and deliberate fact-check of Robert’s attempted fact-check.

You have to admit,the comedic timing on that correction was impeccable.

— Mike1010011 (@mike1010011) January 9, 2025

She’s wearing an IFB and heard everything. She was directing responding to his comment.

— Shiz (@CremeDeLaShiz) January 8, 2025

She sounded exasperated. Totally on purpose.

— MirCat (@TRMirCat) January 8, 2025

Other social media users roasted the news anchor for his remarks.

Loser media spreading wrong information. Glad that reporter called them out and said they have no water. That idiot should be fired

— Marco (@Starchild1328) January 8, 2025

He had not been watching his own channel during the previous 12 hours. They were reporting this last night.

— Peter Van Nostrand (@Nostra2Van) January 8, 2025

No better encapsulation of the media than this right here.

— Fletcher Christian (@dtetreault20) January 9, 2025

Based reporter on the scene. Facts always break down propaganda. The male reporter shouod be fired for what he said. He is promulgating his narrative due to a political agenda.

I may be wrong, but i think that is what Robby was saying – criminal behavior across the board.

— Joshua Konkle (@7SwanSwimming) January 9, 2025

Geezes even the news needs community notes.

— Freight (@Freightmunster) January 9, 2025

• About
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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
Frieda@bizpacreview.com

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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