‘Meditating’ Hikers Accused of Starting LA Wildfire

Beni Oren, 24, and four friends, who were meditating on a remote trail in Pacific Palisades, have broken their silence after being accused of starting the devastating wildfires sweeping Los Angeles. The group, who first spotted the blaze, says they’ve been unfairly targeted amid the chaos.

“We were meditating, our eyes closed,” Oren told The Los Angeles Times. “When we smelled smoke, we opened our eyes to see flames cresting over the mountain—ten feet high and less than 100 feet away.”

Their first instinct was survival. “We ran uphill toward the fire to find the main trail,” Oren recounted. “Once we made it past Skull Rock, we knew we’d narrowly escaped death. It was terrifying.”

A video showing the hikers fleeing the flames went viral, sparking public outrage. Even actor Rob Schneider weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Investigate these kids who were right near the fire’s starting point… PLEASE HELP IDENTIFY.”

The backlash forced Oren to delete his social media account. “I grew up in Malibu. Why would I ever do something like this? It doesn’t make sense when you know all the details,” he said.

Oren explained they had no involvement in the fire’s origins. “We almost died. It’s infuriating to be blamed for something so traumatic.”

Since the fires began on January 7, at least 24 lives have been lost and over 12,000 structures destroyed. Entire neighborhoods, like Pacific Palisades, have been reduced to ash.

“Dry conditions, dense vegetation, and winds up to 80 mph created a perfect storm,” said Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

AccuWeather estimates economic losses between $250 billion and $275 billion.

Less than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders. Firefighters have made significant progress, containing almost half of the Eaton Fire north of LA and 20% of the Pacific Palisades blaze.

Santa Ana winds, however, continue to complicate efforts. Gusts reached 55 mph in the mountains Wednesday, carrying embers miles ahead of the fire lines.

Residents who returned to survey the damage are grappling with the aftermath. “It’s like a bomb went off,” said Jeff Stevens, a lifelong Pacific Palisades resident. “Everything is gone—homes, trees, even the sense of safety we had here.”

As the region rebuilds, questions remain. How can such disasters be prevented in the future? For Oren and his friends, clearing their names has become part of the larger story of survival and resilience amid the devastation.

“People are quick to blame, especially in chaos,” Oren remarked. “But we’re focusing on healing and helping however we can.”

The fires have tested the community’s spirit, but as firefighters gain ground, Southern Californians are proving their strength in the face of unprecedented destruction.