A Malibu resident is telling his story about how he captured a now-viral photo of a Volkswagen Bus that survived the deadly Palisades Fire. “Get out of the house, now! There’s a massive fireball heading your way,

The two friends who own the Volkswagen van went surfing the Sunday before the Palisades Fire erupted and then parked the van in a neighborhood that was later destroyed. They were sure it was a goner.

Of all the horrors of the LA fires, the loss of life and immense loss of property, happy stories have been few and far between. Scrolling social media coverage from around Los Angeles has been harrowing,

The image quickly became a "beacon of hope" for some in the wake of Los Angeles' deadly January 2025 wildfires.

Two days before the Palisades fire erupted, Preston Martin parked the Volkswagen van near the Getty Villa.

Los Angeles, United States - January 16, 2025 01/16/2025 12:00 am (GMT-0800) MALIBU, Calif. – A 1977 Volkswagen van survived the Palisades Fire, which destroyed nearby homes and vehicles. The van, parked in the area before the fire broke out on Jan.

The van’s owner was stunned to find that the vehicle survived in a neighborhood that was later destroyed by the Palisades Fire.