Symbol of hope: Miracle VW van survives Malibu fire

Preston Martin thought his retro blue Volkswagen van was history after he parked it in a Malibu neighborhood just before the Palisades fire tore through, leaving homes and vehicles in ashes. The surfboard maker couldn’t believe it when he saw a photo of the vibrant van, intact amid the devastation, circulating on TV and online.

“There is magic in that van,” said Martin, 24, in an interview. “It should have been toast, but here we are.”

The neighborhood remains off-limits to the public, so Martin and Megan Krystle Weinraub, the van’s current owner, haven’t been able to inspect it. Photos show some soot on its windows, but otherwise, it’s miraculously unharmed.

A College Dream Turned Beloved Icon

Martin bought the 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 during his junior year at UC Santa Barbara. A mechanical engineering student at the time, he converted it into a livable space to save on rent. His mom, Tracey Martin, initially scolded him for spending his money but eventually came to love the van, even sewing curtains for it.

Last summer, Martin sold the van, affectionately named Azul, to Weinraub, 29, a designer of surf and skateboards under her Vibrant Boards brand. Martin himself crafts carbon fiber surfboards under Starlite.

On January 5, the friends went surfing with Azul. Afterward, Martin parked it near Weinraub’s apartment while she learned to drive its manual transmission. Two days later, the fire erupted. Weinraub evacuated with her dog, Bodi, and a few essentials, assuming Azul was lost.

A Beacon of Hope Amid Ruins

Days later, a neighbor sent Weinraub a photo of Azul—pristine, blue, and untouched. “I freaked out,” Weinraub said. “I was in the bathroom, and I screamed.” She called Martin, who shared her astonishment. His mom, Tracey, was equally emotional. “I’ve never cried for a car before,” she texted her son.

The van’s survival gained more attention when an AP photographer’s shot of Azul aired on television and spread online. Weinraub and Martin were thrilled by the reactions. “It’s so cool that it’s become this, like, beacon of hope,” Martin said.

For now, Weinraub waits to be allowed back to her apartment and to reunite with Azul. The van’s survival, surrounded by scorched ruins, has become an unlikely symbol of resilience and joy.