Side-by-side video compares Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu from 2020 to today

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It’s been a devastating few weeks for everyone here in L.A., and we’re all incredibly thankful for the firefighters and first responders who worked so heroically to put out the wildfires. The scale of the destruction is hard to comprehend and I know dozens of people who have been displaced or lost their homes. In fact, my kids’ school has welcomed over 50 new students, as their previous school no longer exists. It’s shocking to see the devastation, but it warms my heart to see how many Angelenos have stepped up to help. If you have the means, here are some ways to help those impacted by the LA fires.

One of KTLA’s reporters, Andy Riesmeyer, did a great job capturing the destruction. The local TV station shared this caption with an Instagram post: “For whatever reason, on April 21, 2020, @andyktla strapped his cellphone to the roof of his car and filmed a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. Like so much of 2020, he was happy to forget it—until a few weeks ago. Now the video exists as a reminder of what once was—and what could be again.”

Here’s his side-by-side video (embedded below) of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu from 2020 compared to today.

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A post shared by KTLA 5 News (@ktla5news)

Seeing the before and after really hits home. I fondly remember all the times I myself have driven this stretch of highway. Surprisingly, the most popular comment on the post suggested that the state should not rebuild those houses so that everyone can enjoy the view of the water.

One commenter said, “Hate to say it – but now that all these houses that used to stand on the sand are gone, the state should buy all those properties and give them back to the public. They were blocking access to that stretch of beaches, claiming ‘security’ and legally fighting the state for access to the beach for decades. They essentially turned them into private beaches for themselves.”

Another commenter shared this sentiment: “Very sad that people lost their homes on the beach, but I’m glad to see the open, unobstructed view of the ocean for everyone to enjoy, rather than backs of houses and garage doors.”

One more comment expressed the emotional loss: “Makes my stomach sick. It’s so sad that all those people lost their homes, and as he said, a piece of history is gone. I grew up in Southern California, and I remember as a kid, in my 20s, and even into adulthood, just being mesmerized by all the beautiful homes and thinking, ‘I wonder who lives there? I wonder what THEY do for a living to afford that?’ We moved out of SoCal one month before the pandemic to Colorado. Watching this from a different state is just heartbreaking. It makes me so sad for everyone affected. My boys will never see that part of history.”

Yet others remain hopeful, believing that things will be better than before: “Andy, thank you. It’s hard to see 😢, but your 2020 video will be great memories. In a few years, you’ll need to strap on the camera again and document the rebirth of PCH. 😊😘 We will make new memories.”

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