In Los Angeles, where cars are practically part of the family, the recent wildfires have left behind more than just scorched landscapes. For many residents, the charred remains of vehicles are a painful reminder of what they’ve lost—not just transportation, but pieces of their lives. Along Palisades Drive, near Sunset Boulevard, dozens of cars sit abandoned, covered in ash. A gray Subaru Crosstrek has a pair of black boots beside it. A Tesla Model X holds a pink backpack with the name “Sonya” on it. Nearby, a red Lexus UX is partly melted, with a box of family photos still inside. Farther east, in Altadena, the scene repeats itself—vehicles reduced to ruins. The exact number of cars damaged or destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires is still unknown. But for those affected, the loss is deeply personal. In a city where cars are essential for getting around, they’re also so much more. They’re extensions of home—places to store extra shoes, eat lunch, or make phone calls during traffic jams. For some, they’re tied to income or hold priceless memories. Take Liliana Baqueiro, 18, who lost her first car, a 2012 Honda Civic, in the Eaton fire. Her home and two of her grandfather’s cars were also destroyed. For her, the car wasn’t just a way to get from point A to point B—it was a symbol of independence and a connection to her family. The fires burned so intensely that metal parts of vehicles melted, leaving behind haunting reminders of what once was. In a city that loves its cars, these charred remains are more than just wreckage—they’re pieces of lives upended by disaster. ---