A retro Volkswagen van has inadvertently become a “beacon of hope” for Los Angeles area residents as they start to pick up the pieces.

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

Preston Martin figured the retro blue Volkswagen van he slept in for a year during college was a goner, given that he parked it in a Malibu neighborhood just before the Palisades fire ripped ...

January 17, 2025 The retro Volkswagen bus once owned by Preston Martin an which he slept in for a year during college is parked in a Pacific Palisades neighborhood destroyed by Palisades fire.

For many residents, a set of wheels is an extension of their home, a key to their income or a source of priceless memories.

Amid the unbelievable destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire, a Volkswagen Beetle that was in the middle of the flames is still intact.

A Volkswagen van survived the deadly Los Angeles fire that has claimed the lives of at least 29 people and destroyed over 12,000 structures.

LOS ANGELES -- Preston Martin figured the retro blue Volkswagen bus he slept in for a year during college was a goner, given that he parked it in a Malibu neighborhood just before the Palisades ...

ALBAWABA - Shocking footage has been emerging from Los Angeles as firefighters are bracing to combat the wildfire that has been going on for many days. However, a Volkswagen van was able to beat ...

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said residents eager to return to evacuated areas must remain patient.

A photo of the van, taken by an Associated Press photographer, circulated widely on television and online, giving people a measure of joy.

Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, are not yet available for purchase by consumers. The combination of computer processing power and advanced automotive