A blue VW van, once thought lost, stands untouched amid the devastation of the Palisades fire in Los Angeles, bringing unexpected joy to its owners.
Los Angeles: Preston Martin thought his beloved blue VW van was toast after the Palisades fire tore through Malibu. He parked it just before the flames turned homes and cars into ashes.
To his surprise, the van survived! A photo of it started making the rounds online, bringing smiles to many faces. “There is magic in that van,” Martin said, still in disbelief.
He bought the 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 during college, planning to live in it to save on rent. His mom wasn’t thrilled at first, but she ended up loving it and even made curtains for the windows.
Last summer, he sold the van to his friend Megan, who calls it Azul. They took it surfing just days before the fire. Afterward, Martin parked it near her place while she learned to drive it.
When the fire broke out, Megan grabbed her dog and some supplies, feeling sad about the van but knowing it was nothing compared to the losses others faced.
Then, a neighbor sent her a photo showing the van still intact. “I freaked out,” she said, and called Martin, who was just as shocked. His mom was overjoyed, texting, “I’ve never cried for a car before.”
When the photo aired on TV, they couldn’t believe it. “We made the news!” Martin exclaimed. Megan hasn’t been able to check on Azul yet since the area is still closed off, but they’re thrilled the van has become a symbol of hope.
“It’s so cool that it’s become this beacon of hope,” Martin said. “Everything around it was destroyed, and there’s this bright blue van, just sitting there.”
