A surprising photograph of an undamaged Volkswagen van surrounded by destruction from a Los Angeles wildfire has astonished viewers across the world.

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

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.

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