Sounds like something PETA or those ELF Freaks would do.
PETA is supposed to protect animals.
I don’t know what the other org.
ELF burned down Two Elk Lodge on Vail mountain some years ago. It was only by a minor miracle the security guard sleeping nearby wasn’t killed. It was rebuilt and they found and charged some of the people responsible but it was a terrible fire.
I can see peta or elf burning the hives thinking the bees would all fly away and be liberated and freeeeeee, but I’m not sure peta or elf would throw the frames with eggs into the pond (or whatever water was mentioned) to drown the nursebees (some of whom were still alive, still trying to save eggs when found, poor little hero critters)
Bears and honey badgers don’t start fires, so that pretty much leaves feral humans on the hoof looking for free honey and afraid of African bees, ergo the fire, or flying high locals with little 14yo-22yo chips on their shoulders as the bee-genocidal culprits.