Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke recently shared a harrowing account of how his neighbors came to his rescue amidst the chaos of the Malibu Franklin Fire. This wildfire, a late-year blaze exacerbated by the powerful Santa Ana winds, wreaked havoc in the area, leading to the destruction of nine structures and damaging six others. As of early Thursday afternoon on December 12th, fire officials reported that the blaze was only 20 percent contained, and they cautioned that it would take several days to fully extinguish the flames. The investigation into the fire’s cause is still ongoing.
Fortunately, as the most intense winds began to subside, meteorologists indicated that the threat of fire had diminished, providing some relief to firefighting efforts. The evacuation orders in Malibu affected thousands of residents, including notable figures like Van Dyke and fellow celebrity Cher.
In an interview with the Today show, aired on December 12th, the beloved actor, who is set to celebrate his 99th birthday on December 13th, recounted his terrifying escape from the fire. “The fire was coming from the hill, you could see it,” he explained. “And oh my God, we got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car; I had exhausted myself and couldn’t get up.” Fortunately, three of his neighbors came to his aid, carrying him away from danger and returning to extinguish a small fire that had ignited in his guest house. “They saved me,” he emphasized, expressing profound gratitude for their quick action.
Prior to this incident, the actor had taken to Facebook on December 10th to reassure his followers that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, had successfully evacuated with their pets, except for their cat, Bobo, who managed to escape during the chaos. “Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals, except for Bobo, who escaped as we were leaving,” he shared at the time. In a heartfelt message, he wrote, “We’re praying he’ll be okay and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”
Van Dyke later updated his fans about Bobo’s safe return, stating, “We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning. There was so much concern about his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to help. Thankfully, he was easy to find and wasn’t harmed.”
On the same day, December 12th, officials from Los Angeles County announced significant progress in combating the wildfire, which had grown to 4,037 acres. According to Dusty Martin of Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), containment efforts had improved significantly, with the fire being 20 percent contained by that afternoon.
As efforts to manage the situation continue, officials indicated that the first phase of repopulation would commence soon, allowing residents to begin returning to their homes. However, they also noted that mandatory evacuation orders would only be lifted in specific areas, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by the blaze.
