Photos That Captured The Heartache And Enormity Of Woolsey Fire

MALIBU, CA — The Woolsey Fire broke out Nov. 8, 2018, and tore through nearly 97,000 acres, killed three people and damaged more than 1,600 structures.

Chaos erupted within the first few critical hours of the Woolsey Fire among communication breakdowns, strong winds and unprepared emergency management officials, leading to a blaze of "epic proportions," according to a report released by Los Angeles County.

The Woolsey Fire, the largest fire in L.A. County history, forced massive evacuations, including the entire City of Malibu, and overwhelmed local fire agencies during its initial hours, even though they are among the "largest, most experienced agencies" in the nation, the report said.

Here are some photos that show what it was like during and after the Woolsey Fire erupted:

The Woolsey Fire burns a home near Malibu Lake in Malibu, Calif., Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. A fast-moving wildfire in Southern California scorched a historic movie site recently used by the HBO series "Westworld" and forced thousands to flee flames that have claimed homes and prompted the total evacuation of Malibu. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

The Woolsey Fire burns a home in Malibu, Calif., Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The Southern California wildfire continued to burn homes as it ran toward the sea. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

A firefighter battles the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Calif., Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The Southern California wildfire continued to burn homes as it ran toward the sea. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

A firefighter battles the Woolsey Fire burning a home in Malibu, California. The wind-whipped blaze erupted on Nov. 8 and spread destruction from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, west of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)

A helicopter drops water on a brush fire behind homes during the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Calif., Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. The fast-moving wildfire in Southern California scorched a historic movie site recently used by the HBO series "Westworld" and forced thousands to flee flames that have claimed homes and prompted the total evacuation of the celebrity enclave Malibu. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Roger Kelton, 67, wipes his tears while searching through the remains of his mother-in-law's home burned down by the Woolsey Fire in Agoura Hills, CA. "We saw the pictures Friday of the house on fire," said Kelton. "We knew it was gone but still haven't had my good cry yet. I've been trying to be strong for my daughter, my wife and my mother-in-law." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A long line of residents seeking to return to Malibu, Calif., in Southern California wait at a checkpoint on Pacific Coast Highway after Woolsey Fire evacuation orders were lifted for the eastern portion of the city Tuesday evening, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

A melted fence runs along a hillside in Agoura Hills, CA after the area was ravaged by the Woolsey Fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A mansion burned down by the Woolsey Fire sits on a hilltop overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains in Agoura Hills, CA. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

An American flag is draped over the charred remains of an old pickup truck entering Point Dume along the pacific coast highway in Malibu, CA. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Burned trees surround a destroyed home leaving only the fireplace in Point Dume in Malibu, CA. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Firefighters Jason Toole, right, and Brent McGill with the Santa Barbara Fire Dept. walk among the ashes of a wildfire-ravaged home after turning off an open gas line on the property in Malibu, CA. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Vehicles and a home are in ruins, one of at least 20 homes that were lost on Windermere Drive in the Point Dume area of Malibu, CA. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

This April 9, 2019, photo provided by the National Park Service shows one of four kittens born to a young bobcat captured, collared and released a day before a massive, deadly wildfire, in a large residential backyard in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Authorities at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area said Friday, April 19, 2019, that biologists recently found the bobcat's den in dense vegetation. While their mother was away, the biologists gave the kittens a general health check, and weighed, measured and tagged them. Their mother, B-362, was tagged the day before the start of last year's Woolsey Fire, which destroyed 1,600 structures and left three people dead. (Ana Beatriz Cholo/National Park Service via AP)

Woolsey Fire Anniversary Series

Nov. 8, 2019, marks the one-year anniversary of the Woolsey Fire — the most devastating and destructive fire in LA County history. This weekend, we reflect on what happened during the fire with emergency response crews, residents and officials and prepare for what lies ahead in an era of catastrophic California wildfires.

We talk to firefighters, city officials, lawyers, residents and researchers to see what the recovery has been like, who is still fighting for the fire victims one year later and what lessons we've learned along the way. Fire victims share what it was like to lose it all and the complicated grief that followed. Firefighters tell stories of fighting on the front lines for multiple days in a row, and city officials recount what it was like to evacuate the entire city of Malibu and rebuilding destroyed communities. Lawyers describe their ongoing battle for accountability, and scientists explain how California's fires are changing over time.

One thing is for certain: The Woolsey Fire changed us.

Other stories in this series:

Life After Woolsey: Malibu Still Soul Searching One Year Later

No Going Back After Woolsey: How The Monster Changed Firefighting

The Fight's Not Over: Victims Seek Justice After Woolsey Fire

Come back to Patch for more stories in this series. Don't miss a single installment by signing up for free morning newsletters from your local Southern California Patch.