'Glamping' Business Owner Accused of Sparking Deadly LA Wildfire Speaks Out for First Time on Allegations: 'It Sucks'

A glamping business owner is speaking out for the first time about the "infuriating" barrage of accusations online that he and his friends sparked the devastating Palisades wildfire, which has burned over 40,000 acres and claimed at least 24 lives.

Beni Oren, 24, and four friends were hiking near Skull Rock in the hills above Pacific Palisades on the morning of January 7, a vantage point from which they spotted the fire in its early stages. Around 10:15 a.m., a group meditation was disrupted when they noticed smoke and flames cresting over the ridge, prompting them to capture the terrifying moment on video as they fled.

The trauma of the episode amid the devastation of the fire was compounded when Oren's video, posted on social media, went viral. With little information available about the fire's origin, online users inferred the group's proximity to the ignition point was more than coincidence.

"It's definitely kind of infuriating that people are blaming us," Oren told the Los Angeles Times. "Also, it's scary. Just knowing as a matter of fact of our experience that we didn't do it but then seeing the amount of people that have different theories is overwhelming."

High-profile figures, including actor Rob Schneider, amplified the accusations by sharing images from the video and urging the public to identify the men. Oren said he deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account out of fear for his safety.

"I knew people would interpret that as suspicious," Oren said. "Keeping the video up just felt kind of dangerous at the time."

Oren, a Malibu native whose own family has suffered from wildfires, expressed frustration over the unfounded claims. "I literally grew up in Malibu. Why would I start this fire? If we did it, why would we post it?"

Authorities have not contacted Oren or his friends, though sources confirmed investigators are aware of the viral video.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Oren shared how difficult it has been to process both surviving the fire and facing public suspicion. "We actually almost died, and it was fairly traumatic. Going through that and then having people try to blame us pretty ruthlessly. It sucks."