How Some Homes May Have Miraculously Survived the LA Fires While Others Burned Down — Photos

The destructive force of the Los Angeles wildfires is undeniable, with thousands of homes lost and families left devastated. Yet, scattered among the ruins are stories of resilience — homes that somehow endured the inferno.

From the sturdy architecture of an architect’s design to the well-prepared defenses of high-profile celebrities like James Woods and Tom Hanks, these houses stood firm when many around them did not.

James Woods’s Home – A ‘Miracle’ Amid Destruction

Actor James Woods took to social media to share an emotional update about his home following the wildfires. Against all odds, his property managed to survive the disaster that destroyed countless homes in the area.

“A miracle has happened,” Woods wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing.”

The actor admitted that his home wasn’t completely spared from damage, as smoke and other minor impacts were visible. However, compared to the utter destruction surrounding his property, Woods’s home was a beacon of survival in a charred landscape.

“In this hellish landscape, ‘standing’ is relative […],” he wrote, highlighting the dire situation across the area. “Oh wow. You’re on the right side with God,” one social media user commented. Another typed, “Wow. That’s great news.”

David Steiner’s Malibu Mansion – A Testament to Strong Construction

David Steiner, a retired waste-management executive from Texas, was left stunned when he learned that his nearly $9 million Malibu mansion had survived the wildfires.

Initially, he believed his home was lost after a local contractor sent him a video showing flames covering his property and neighboring houses. “It looked like nothing could have possibly survived that, and I thought we had lost the house,” he said.

However, Steiner soon started receiving messages from people who had seen news footage of his home standing tall amid the wreckage. “I started getting pictures and realized we had made it through,” he shared.

Steiner credited his home’s survival to its solid construction. Likely built to withstand earthquakes, the house featured fire-resistant materials, including stucco, stone, and a fireproof roof.

He added that the home also included pilings “like 50 feet into the bedrock” to ensure it remained steady in the face of strong waves from the seawall below it.

More than 20 firefighters worked for over 12 hours to save the structure, according to one firefighter who spoke to the media. Despite the overwhelming situation, Steiner remained grateful. “I said, ‘Don’t pray for me — what I lost is material goods.’ … I lost a property, but others lost their homes,” he said.

While the house may have suffered some smoke damage, Steiner was relieved to know that it remained intact. “[…] I never in a million years thought a wildfire would jump to the Pacific Coast Highway and start a fire,” he stated.

“I thought, ‘If we ever have an earthquake, this would be the last thing to go.’ I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go,” he added.

Upon hearing of the good news, one social media user wrote, “So it is possible to build a fireproof and earthquake resistant home.” Another person shared, “This miracle.” A third added, “That’s incredible! It’s amazing how some places can withstand nature’s fury.”

Greg Chasen Architecturally Resilient Home

Architect Greg Chasen shared his wildfire experience on social media, revealing that his home had withstood the flames. His posts highlighted both the horror of the disaster and the luck he experienced in keeping his property safe.

“No words really — just a horror show,” Greg posted on X. “Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky.”

Chasen shared details about minor damage his home sustained, noting that “a couple [sic] glass panels will require replacement,” but overall, the house was in good shape. He added, “A tiny bit of ash residue collected on the interior sill there,” showing just how close the flames had come to entering his home.

One striking image shared by Chasen revealed a trail of molten aluminum from a neighbor’s car. “The trail of 1200° molten aluminum stands out,” he wrote. “The neighbor moved his car into the driveway before leaving — this may have burned his house down.”

Other social media users chimed in on Chasen’s story, offering thoughts on the design elements that may have saved his house. One person noted in part, “This house, designed as a ‘Passive House’ concept, survived the Cali wildfire. Might had had [sic] a lot to do with the brick wall around the property though.”

Another user commented on the building’s masonry-heavy design and minimal use of flammable features. “Defensive building is going to be a popular topic,” they wrote, adding, “This looks to be a lot of masonry and few eaves. I’m also interested in the roofing.”

Ben Bear, the co-founder and CEO of TurboHome and BuildCasa shared, “We’ve gotten a few questions at BuildCasa on whether SB9 or SB684 could be used as faster permitting processes for rebuilding after the LA fires. Both laws are by right meaning planning approvals could come in 60 days vs 1-2 years.”

He added, “Unfortunately neither law applies in very high zones. This probably makes sense unless we temporarily opted in the affected high fire zones on the condition that all homes were built with fire-resistant designs like this beautiful home from @ChasenGreg.”

Tom Hanks’s Pacific Palisades Home – A Celebrity Property That Defied the Flames

Among the celebrity homes that narrowly escaped destruction was Tom Hanks’s $26 million Pacific Palisades property. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion, which Hanks purchased with his wife, Rita Wilson, in 2010, miraculously remained nearly untouched while nearby houses burned.

Photos shared by news outlets showed the actor’s home standing intact, despite the massive cliffside mansion above it being destroyed by the flames. The contrast between his property and the surrounding devastation was striking.

The survival of these homes amid the Los Angeles wildfires highlights the critical role of fire-resistant designs, proactive measures, and sheer luck. While many properties were lost, these stories offer insight into how some homes endured the devastation.