Three months ago, the Woolsey Fire spread through Southern California, becoming the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history. Of the thousands of structures afflicted two belonged to family. My grandfather and grandmother, as well as my aunt, uncle, and three cousins, lost their homes and nearly all of their possessions in the burn. I was able to visit Malibu at Christmas time, and I photographed what I saw.
Below: My grandparents' home in Malibu Park.
At most burn sites, little is recognizable amidst the rubble and soot. But a closer look reveals the remnants of everyday life.
The Landscape After Woolsey
When wildfires hit Southern California, the damages in canyons are amplified due to accelerated winds and steep terrain. For Malibu's Latigo Canyon, Woolsey was no exception. After storms in early January, mudslide danger forced a temporary evacuation for residents of Lower Latigo.