The charred remains of homes lined the Los Angeles landscape as flames continued to engulf entire neighborhoods in the Southern California city.
But on Monday, some homes remained intact amid collapsed walls.
Thanks to a combination of luck and architectural design, a handful of homes in the community survived the fire that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
The difference is obvious: A house on a hilltop sits among burned trees and brush, with untouched items visible through its windows. Below, the remains of other homes — parts of roofs, fences and walls, as well as air conditioning units and swing chairs — were charred and crumpled.
The Walsh House from the TV series “Beverly Hills 90210” survives. The same goes for pristine lawns. The ruins of the neighbor’s house next door were blackened by soot.
Some beachfront properties also survived, with rows of charred trees replaced by clusters of untouched homes. Others met a different fate, with roofs and trees collapsing into homes.
David Slater plowed the driveway of his intact home, just feet away from the charred remains of his neighbor’s car and a crumbling wall. Fallen trees and debris still lay behind Slater’s front door.
California wildfires bear the hallmarks of climate change. Atmospheric rivers dump large amounts of water into the area, causing massive plant growth. Then drought dries them out, creating perfect fodder for the flames.
Firefighters are preparing for dangerous winds that could reignite the blaze on Monday.