Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, nearly 99, recounts his narrow escape from the Malibu fire. With help from neighbors, he fled his home safely. The story concludes happily with the safe return of his missing cat, Bobo.
- THIS was Dick Van Dyke's Malibu fire escape
- His neighbors had heroic rescue efforts
- Bobo his cat had a safe return
Neighbors' Heroic Rescue Efforts
Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, just shy of his 99th birthday, recounted his harrowing escape from the recent Malibu fire. The blaze, which has consumed over 4,000 acres and is still only 7% contained, forced thousands of residents, including Van Dyke and his wife Arlene Silver, to evacuate their homes.
During an interview aired on the 'Today' show, Van Dyke described the terrifying moment when the fire approached his home. "It was coming from the hill, you could see it. And oh my God, and we got out of here," he said.
As Van Dyke struggled to manage his fire hose, exhaustion overcame him, leaving him unable to move. In a moment of desperation, his neighbors came to his aid.
"I was trying to crawl to the car, I had exhausted myself, I couldn’t get up," he recounted. "Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me." Their quick response not only secured Van Dyke's safety but also helped prevent further damage to his property.
Bobo the Cat's Safe Return
Amidst the chaos, Van Dyke and Silver managed to evacuate with their pets, except for one of their cats, Bobo, who escaped during the evacuation.
Van Dyke shared his concern in a Facebook post, stating, "Bobo escaped as we were leaving. We’re praying he’ll be okay and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires."
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending. "We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning," Van Dyke later posted, expressing relief and gratitude for the community's support in finding their beloved pet.
The Franklin Fire in Malibu, California, has forced the evacuation of over 20,000 residents, including celebrities, as it rapidly spreads due to strong winds. With improving weather conditions, firefighters are cautiously optimistic about containing the fire, which has already destroyed multiple structures. Power outages and school closures add to the challenges faced by the community.
The Franklin Fire, ignited on Monday in Malibu, California, has rapidly spread, consuming more than 4,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon.
The fire's swift growth, driven by strong winds, has led to evacuation orders for over 20,000 residents, including some celebrities. At its height, the fire expanded at a rate of five football fields per minute, destroying at least nine structures and damaging six more. Despite the destruction, no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Improving weather conditions on Wednesday brought hope to officials battling the Franklin Fire. Southern California's Red Flag warnings, which indicate weather conducive to fire spread, expired as temperatures cooled and winds calmed.
Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart expressed optimism, stating, "We’re far better off this morning than we were in the last 30-plus hours." Nearly 2,000 firefighters are now working to contain the fire in the steep Malibu Canyon terrain, though it may take several days to fully control the blaze.
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Power outages have compounded the challenges for Southern California residents, with nearly 60,000 customers affected. San Diego County experienced the brunt of these outages due to preventive shutdowns by utilities.
In Malibu, Pepperdine University's campus lost power, relying on generators to maintain essential services. Schools in the area, including Malibu Elementary and Malibu High, have been closed through Thursday, affecting students and families already dealing with the fire's impact.
