Trending Topics

Photo of the Week: Retro VW van survives Calif. wildfire

Preston Martin figured his 1977 Volkswagon van was goner when he parked it in Malibu before the Palisades Fire

Calling all fire photographers:
FireRescue1 wants to see your pictures! The next time you come across something inspiring, take out the camera and submit it to FireRescue1! Just remember to include your name, agency information and brief background information on the picture.

California Wildfires Behind the Pictures Photo Gallery

A Volkswagen bus sits among burned out homes, Jan. 9, 2025, in Malibu, Calif.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

By FireRescue 1 Staff

MALIBU, Calif. — Preston Martin thought his retro blue Volkswagen van was lost after the Palisades fire devastated a Malibu neighborhood, destroying homes and cars.

To his surprise, the van survived. A photo of the vibrant 1977 Volkswagen Type 2, taken by an Associated Press photographer, went viral, bringing joy to many, the Associated Press reported.

Martin, a surfboard maker, bought the van during college at UC Santa Barbara. He later sold it to his friend Megan Krystle Weinraub. When the fire broke out, Weinraub evacuated with her dog, leaving the van behind, expecting it to be destroyed.

Days later, a neighbor sent her a photo showing the van untouched, its bright colors still intact despite soot on the windows.

California Wildfires Blue Van

This photo provided by Macy DiCenso shows Megan Krystle Weinraub as she stands with her dog Bodi in front of her Volkswagen van on Sept. 30, 2024, in Malibu, Calif.

Macy DiCenso/AP

California Wildfires Blue Van

Preston Martin poses for a photo in front of his VW van on Aug. 21, 2022 in Irvine, Calif.

Cebrina Martin/AP

Trending
Firefighters, police officers and teachers will see higher Social Security payments starting in April after the repeal of WEP and GPO under the new Social Security Fairness Act
NIOSH faces layoffs of staff working on firefighter safety initiatives like the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer and line-of-duty death investigations
Known as the “American fire service war college,” the National Fire Academy offers advanced fire training to thousands of students each year in a variety of formats
Gresham Firefighter Spencer Tejedas suffered burns to 45% of his body in a house fire where conditions quickly changed, leading to a flashover