People love comedian Dick Van Dyke. They recall his beloved 1960s TV sitcom with Mary Tyler Moore. His appearances in classic lighthearted films like Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) are also legendary. But there was nothing funny about his escape from the wildfire that is raging in Malibu that has already devoured more than 4,000 acres. Van Dyke, a six-time Emmy winner who turns 99 on December 13, was helped by some neighbors to escape just in time to beat the fast-moving flames, per People.
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Dick Van Dyke Shared The Scary Story Of How He Escaped
He Spoke Of His Exhaustion As He Tried To Avoid The Fire
Per nbcnews.com, Van Dyke said, "This time I messed up ... I have a fire hose that hooks up to my pool, and shoots like a 70-foot stream of water. Well, I wasn't ready. I went out. It was snarled, and I'm out there laying on the ground trying to undo this fire hose, and the fire's coming over the hill. What I did was exhaust myself. I forgot how old I am, and I realized I was crawling to get out."
The actor told a local news outlet via Today via People, "It was coming from the hill, you could see it, And oh my God, and we got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car, I had exhausted myself, I couldn't get up."
He added, "Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me."
He And His Wife And Their Animals Made It Out Safely
Video From His Doorbell Camera Shows Their Evacuation
On Tuesday, Van Dyke posted a message on
Facebook. "Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo [a cat] escaped as we were leaving. We're praying he'll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires."Then he followed up two days later with good news. "We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning. There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist. But, thankfully he was easy to find and not harmed."
The Franklin Fire Forced Other Celebs From Their Homes
Cher, Mira Sorvino, And Jane Seymour Fled The Flames
All these stars are fortunately alright. The blaze which began on December 9, has menaced the affluent enclave for days because it spread so quickly, scorching thousands of acres.
Actress Jane Seymour posted on Instagram, "While the Franklin Fire continues to burn in Malibu and has gotten extremely close to our home, we remain evacuated and we are safe. We are deeply grateful for the amazing firefighters and the incredible band of Malibu volunteer firefighters who are risking everything to protect our homes and our community. This fire reminds us of the strength, the bravery, resilience, and compassion that bind us together in the hardest of times. Let's continue to support and uplift one another, as we always do.To everyone fighting the flames and keeping us safe, thank you. Your courage is extraordinary."
