Dick Van Dyke Says Neighbors ‘Saved Me’ During Wildfire Evacuation Ahead of 99th Birthday: ‘I Was Trying to Crawl to the Car. I Couldn’t Get Up’

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As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for Hollywood history, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration and gratitude towards Dick Van Dyke. The man, who has graced our screens for decades, has once again shown his resilience and humility in the face of adversity. His 99th birthday was marked not by celebration, but by an escape from the raging Franklin Fire, a testament to his indomitable spirit.

Dick Van Dyke shared in a “Today” show interview (through People) that his neighbors came to his aid during this week’s Franklin Fire, which swept through Malibu and consumed over 2,600 acres. This wildfire led to numerous evacuations and power outages in the Malibu region. Van Dyke had to leave his home right before his 99th birthday on December 13. In simpler terms, his neighbors helped him escape his house just as the Franklin Fire was approaching, and he had to evacuate due to the fire, which caused many people to leave their homes and led to power outages in Malibu.

Coming from the hill, it was clearly visible,” the actress from ‘Mary Poppins’ explained. “Goodness gracious! We hastily left. I attempted to crawl towards the car, but I had no strength left. Three neighbors helped me escape and even managed to put out a small fire in the guest house, thus rescuing me.

Actor Van Dyke, together with his wife Arlene Silver and their furry companions, left their house due to the wildfires. Later, on Facebook, he informed his followers about their safe arrival, but expressed worry as one of their pets, a cat named Bobo, was nowhere to be found during the evacuation. Fortunately, both Van Dyke’s home and his beloved pet fared well amidst the flames.

Upon our return home today, we quickly located Bobo,” Van Dyke posted on Facebook on December 12. “Given the high level of concern over his disappearance, Animal Control was even brought in for help. Fortunately, finding him was straightforward and he remained unharmed.

As a cinema enthusiast, I wasn’t alone in having to abandon my home in Malibu due to the ferocious wildfires. Stars like Mira Sorvino and Cher found themselves in similar circumstances, as did countless other residents in the vicinity. Even the Santa Monica-Malibu school district had no choice but to shut down all schools in Malibu on December 10th. Pepperdine University students were instructed to take shelter where they were.

After making waves with my cameo in Coldplay’s heartfelt music video for “All My Life,” I found myself once again under the spotlight at the ripe age of 98. In this moving production, I shared the screen with my beloved family, crooning and dancing our way through a beautiful reunion scene.

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2024-12-12 18:16