Anything can be a small symbol of hope. Sometimes, something old stands in the ashes of tragic destruction to remind us that there’s still color to be found in the world. Today, for some, that simple symbol arrives courtesy of an old Volkswagen bus. Megan Weinraub’s 1977 VW Transporter somehow survived the ferocious fires of the Pacific Palisades. It sits parked on the street where its owner left it as she had to flee the flames.

Of course, the amazing photograph showing the seemingly unharmed bus does nothing to reduce or minimize the scope and scale of the horrific destruction. But it can serve as a simple reminder of better days ahead. Even a small notion of that idea is welcome as California currently still burns.