The devastating Franklin Fire that broke out in Malibu, California on Monday (9th) continues to rage, with Hollywood legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, who is nearly a hundred years old, praising his three neighbors for rescuing him to safety from the wildfire.
Over his more than seventy years in the entertainment industry, Van Dyke has been widely recognized for his work in film, television, radio, and Broadway musicals, earning numerous accolades and cementing his status as a Disney legend. Some of his notable works include “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
In an interview with NBC’s “Today” show on Thursday (12th), he revealed that he was caught off guard when he saw flames approaching his home from the hills. The wildfire erupted around 11 p.m. on Monday, swiftly spreading south, leading to widespread evacuations and power outages in the Malibu area, and destroying several buildings and homes.
“I messed up this time,” Van Dyke said. “I have a fire hose that can reach about 70 feet by the swimming pool.”
“I wasn’t prepared. I went out, the fire was coming fiercely, and I was trying to unravel this fire hose on the ground, but the wildfire was already spreading from the hills. And all I did was wear myself out,” he said. “I forgot how old I am, and then I realized I was crawling trying to get out.”
Van Dyke turned 99 on Friday (13th) and struggled to leave his home during the evacuation process.
“I tried to crawl to the car, I was worn out, couldn’t stand up. Three neighbors came, carried me out, and then went back to put out a small fire in the guest house, they saved me… I thank them,” the star shared in a Facebook post on Tuesday. He and his wife, makeup artist Arlene Silver, have safely evacuated, but their cat Bobo went missing. Later, he updated that with the help of the animal control center, Bobo was found unharmed.
During the interview, Van Dyke praised the efforts of firefighters in extinguishing the blaze: “They took me away from here and immediately doused my house, but the fire still had the upper hand.” He added, “They must be exhausted, but they deserve all the praise.”
According to the California Fire Department’s update as of Friday afternoon at 4:25 PM, the Franklin Fire has burned over 4,000 acres, with only 30% containment.