Malibu Hills Wildflower Bloom after the Woolsey Fire
Image ID: AHLE0391
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com
This was the first spring after the Woolsey wildfire passed through the area. The fire and subsequent winter rains caused an exceptionally intense bloom. Many of the flowers were the yellow black mustard plant, which quickly established itself after the fire and presents a challenge to some native plants.
The Woolsey Fire burned over 96,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura County from November 8-21, 2018. It caused 3 fatalities and destroyed 1,643 structures including houses owned by Neil Young and Kim Bassinger.
The fire started on the Santa Susana Field Laboratory property, which is a complex of industrial research and development facilities that is owned by Boeing. It is located in the Santa Susana Mountains above the Simi Valley.
Hundreds of homes in Malibu were destroyed on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway. One home in the Malibu Hills which burned to the foundation is visible in the foreground of this aerial photograph adjacent to two homes which survived. In the far distance, downtown Los Angeles is visible through a thin layer of haze.
The Aerial Archives library contains numerous additional aerial photographs of the aftermath of the Woolsey Fire and the Malibu Hills wildflower bloom the following spring.
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More aerial photography of California wildfires and their aftermath.
More aerial photography of Los Angeles County, California.
Additional information about the collection Los Angeles County aerial photography.
