Remembering the Northridge earthquake of 1994

Cars are dwarfed by a wall of flames that was created when a natural gas line ruptured in the earthquake.  (Jonathan Alcorn / For The Los Angeles Times)

The body of Los Angeles Police Officer Clarence Wayne Dean lies near his motorcycle, which plunged off the 14 Freeway overpass that collapsed onto the 5 Freeway during the earthquake.  (Jonathan Alcorn / For the Los Angeles Times)

Dave Dutton found chaos at his Dutton’s Books in North Hollywood.  (Julie Markes / For the Los Angeles Times)

People stand in line at a Canoga Park High School shelter to pick up children’s sweat suits donated by a sporting goods manufacturer.  (David Bohrer / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jessica Hernandez, 7, clutches her teddy bear outside the makeshift shelter where her family and other residents of a Van Nuys apartment complex are living because they are afraid of return to their homes.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Unable to bathe since his Canoga Park apartment was condemned, Jose Aguilar rinses off in a pool.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Both ends of this medical administration building collapsed, and the second floor pancaked.  (Ricardo DeArantha / Los Angeles Times)

A man stares out to the street from his wall-less home at the devastated Northridge Meadows apartments.  (Joel P. Lugavere / Los Angeles Times)

Flowers line a fence at the Northridge Meadows apartment complex a week after the quake.  (Julie Markes / For the Los Angeles Times)