The remains of charred homes line the Los Angeles landscape as flames continue to engulf entire neighborhoods in the Southern California city.
But among the crumbling walls on Monday, some houses stand intact.
Through a mix of luck and construction design, a handful of homes in neighborhoods that were otherwise reduced to ash withstood the fierce flames that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
The differences were stark: one hilltop home stood among burned trees and brush, with intact items visible from the windows. Below are the burnt and crumpled remains of other homes – parts of roofs, fences and walls, as well as air conditioners and swings.
The Walsh House, featured in the television series Beverly Hills 90210, survives. As is his pristine lawn. Next door, the remains of a neighbor’s house were blackened by soot.
Some beachfront properties were also spared, with rows of burned trees making way for a cluster of intact homes. Others had a different fate with roofs and trees collapsing onto properties.
One man, David Slater, swept the driveway of his intact home just steps away from the burned remains of his neighbor’s car and a broken wall. Downed trees and debris also lay outside the door of Slater’s house.
Wildfires in California bear the imprint of climate change. Atmospheric rivers poured enormous amounts of water into the region, causing abundant plant growth. Then the drought dried them up, creating perfect food for the flames.
Firefighters are preparing for the return of dangerous winds that could fan the fire again on Monday.
