Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
This week, a video supposedly showing the CN Tower on fire went viral on Facebook.
The video’s creator is known for producing similar videos made with the help of artificial intelligence.
The CN Tower confirmed no fire occurred at the Toronto landmark.
THE CLAIM
A video supposedly showing the CN Tower in flames went viral on Facebook Monday, receiving around 12 million views by the time of publication.
The video, posted as a Facebook reel, shows people filming the tower from a distance as smoke pours from the upper portion that contains the restaurant and observation decks. Another clip shows the tower in flames as people observe from the street and a spectator says, “Oh my God!” The video then switches to an aerial view of the burning tower, apparently in ruins.
The video was shared more than 8,000 times on Facebook, but it isn’t real.
THE FACTS
“The CN Tower is one of the most photographed landmarks in Canada and we love seeing it featured in stunning photos and creative videos online. But not everything you see is real,” a tower spokesperson said in an email to The Canadian Press.
“A recent video circulating online appears to show the CN Tower on fire. This video is a deepfake and entirely fictional. There is no fire, and the CN Tower remains safe, secure, and fully operational. Unfortunately, this is not the first time AI-generated content or visual effects have been used to create misleading depictions of the CN Tower,” they said.
The video’s creator posted dozens of similar videos to their Facebook page depicting famous landmarks on fire, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hollywood sign.
The creator’s Facebook bio describes them as a “creator of viral moments” and a teacher of “AI-generated art & content.”
While they do not explicitly say their videos are generated with the help of artificial intelligence, there are some signs in the video that point to AI, like the smoke drifting downward unnaturally, the absence of licence plate numbers on the cars driving by and a glossy, over-polished look to the video.
The CN Tower’s live camera, which offers an up-close and skyline view, shows no fire or damage to the attraction.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2025.
Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press
