Dick Van Dyke Credits Neighbors with Saving Him from Wildfire
Actor Dick Van Dyke has spoken out about his harrowing experience evacuating his home during the recent Franklin Fire in Malibu, which burned over 2,600 acres and caused widespread evacuations and power outages. In an interview on the “Today” show, Van Dyke revealed that his neighbors “saved” him after he became exhausted trying to escape his home ahead of his 99th birthday on December 13.
“It was coming from the hill, you could see it,” Van Dyke said. “And oh my God. We got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car. I had exhausted myself. I couldn’t get up. Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”
Van Dyke and his wife, Arlene Silver, along with their pets, managed to evacuate their home, but not before one of their pets, a cat named Bobo, went missing. Fortunately, Bobo was found safe and sound the next morning.
Van Dyke’s evacuation experience was not unique, as many other celebrities, including Mira Sorvino and Cher, also fled their homes due to the wildfires. The Santa Monica-Malibu school district even closed all Malibu schools, and Pepperdine University students were told to shelter in place.
In a Facebook post, Van Dyke updated his fans on his situation and expressed gratitude to his neighbors for their heroism. He also made headlines earlier this year for appearing in Coldplay’s music video for “All My Love,” in which he sang and danced with his family.
