**Viral News Snippet:**

Viral News Snippet:

🚨 CLAIM: Social media posts are circulating claiming the Simi Valley Fire was “started by a homeless encampment’s illegal cooking fire” and that authorities are “covering it up to avoid backlash.”

✅ FACT CHECK: FAKE. The Ventura County Fire Department has officially confirmed the cause of the Simi Valley Fire is under investigation, with early reports pointing to a spark from a passing vehicle’s tow chain dragging on asphalt. There is no evidence of any “cover-up,” and the homeless encampment theory has been debunked by on-site fire investigators. 🔥⚠️