Dick Van Dyke, the beloved actor, narrowly escaped a wildfire in Malibu with help from his neighbors.
According to Fox News, Dick Van Dyke, 98, had to evacuate his Malibu home during the Franklin Fire, which threatened thousands of homes and residents in the area.
The fire, which has engulfed more than 2,800 acres, posed a significant threat to the community, including Van Dyke's property. Visible flames loomed over the hills near his residence, prompting an urgent response.
During the evacuation, a critical moment arose for Van Dyke. Struggling to reach his vehicle, the exhaustion was overwhelming for the soon-to-be 99-year-old actor. "It was coming over the hill. You [could] see it," Van Dyke recounted about the wildfire approaching his home. He described his physical state during the evacuation as unable to continue unaided.
Dick Van Dyke relayed his experience:
I was trying to crawl to the car. I had exhausted myself. I couldn’t get up. And three neighbors came and carried me out… came back and put out a little fire in the guest house… saved me.
Thankfully, Van Dyke's house remained intact, though neighboring properties were not as fortunate, and the surrounding landscape suffered extensive damage. In addition to the assistance he received, the action taken by his neighbors in extinguishing a fire in his guest house proved crucial in preventing further damage to his property.
During the chaos, security footage captured Van Dyke, his wife Arlene, and their pets as they left the area. Unfortunately, amidst the hurried evacuation, they lost one of their pets, Bobo.
The wildfire, dubbed the Franklin Fire, originated near Pepperdine University around late Monday night. It has significantly affected the Malibu community, leading to a substantial evacuation effort.
The sheriff's update indicated that the fire impacted over 18,000 individuals, with 8,100 buildings affected, 2,000 of which received evacuation orders.
Notably, Van Dyke isn't the only high-profile individual affected; other celebrities like Mira Sorvino and Cher have also had to evacuate from the spreading flames. Arson teams are investigating the cause of the fire and exploring potential leads.
In recent cultural news, Van Dyke appeared in a music video by Coldplay, a nod to his extensive and influential career in entertainment. His resilience is also highlighted by his positive outlook on life, as expressed in a recent video: "I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now. But I don’t know why it doesn’t concern me. I’m not afraid of it," Van Dyke shared. He remains optimistic about his circumstances, interpreting them with a rare kind of grace.
The community continues to monitor the situation closely, with many homes still at risk and firefighters battling to control the blaze. The hope is that conditions will improve, preventing further loss and allowing displaced residents to return to their homes.
In conclusion, the resilience of Dick Van Dyke and his community during the Franklin Fire exemplifies the strength and solidarity often seen in times of disaster. With the support of neighbors and emergency services, Van Dyke and many others hope to recover from the impact of this calamitous event.
