A dangerous prank involving an AI-generated image of the Orlando West High School engulfed in flames caused widespread alarm yesterday (January 5).

It is alleged that a minor shared the fabricated image with emergency services, falsely claiming that the incident had occurred.

Following the circulation of the image and report, EMS immediately launched an investigation to verify the authenticity of the information.

City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Kagiso Phasha confirmed that Orlando West High School was not on fire and that no incident had been reported to the City’s Command and Control Centre.

“This incident is regarded as a dangerous and irresponsible prank. The creation and sharing of false emergency-related content, including AI-generated images, causes unnecessary panic, spreads misinformation, and results in the waste of critical emergency resources intended for genuine life-threatening emergencies,” said Phasha.

Phasha added that EMS strongly condemns such actions and warns that the spreading of false information may have serious consequences, including possible legal implications.