Actor Dick Van Dyke expresses gratitude to neighbors and kind strangers for rescuing him and his house during the Malibu, California wildfire.

MALIBU, Calif. — Dick Van Dyke has a lot to be grateful after celebrating his 99th birthday on Friday.

The legendary actor was among the thousands of people forced to flee after the Franklin Fire in Malibu threatened his home.

Fortunately, he was able to safely evacuate and he’s thanking those who helped save him and his home.

“These guys, I owe my life to and my house to, so God bless you guys,” Van Dyke said with his neighbors and good Samaritans beside him.

The Hollywood icon – famous for “Mary Poppins” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” – knew he was in danger during the fire.

“Van Dyke shared with Eyewitness News that he was unable to get up and needed assistance to be carried to the car. Expressing gratitude, he emphasized that the individuals who helped him not only saved his house but also his life, stating, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t even be here.’

A crew of neighbors and good Samaritans rushed to the rescue as flames exploded all around.

“Kirby Kotler, a volunteer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, noted Van Dyke’s resilience, commenting, ‘I’ll tell you what, he’s much tougher than he says.’ Kotler described the moment when he assisted Van Dyke to the car, revealing Van Dyke’s plea to protect his home from the flames.

The crew used a neighbor’s fire suppression system and garden hoses to save the backhouse, which had erupted in flames.

“We saved his house, saved all the memorabilia here. That’s important,” neighbor Alec Gellis said.

Their actions saved Van Dyke’s home full of Hollywood memorabilia and his numerous awards, including Emmys, a Grammy and a Tony.

Luckily, he was also reunited with his cat Bobo, who went missing during the evacuation.

Work continues in Van Dyke’s neighborhood. He said he can’t thank his friends and neighbors enough for saving him and his house.

Despite the recent intense experience, Van Dyke is eager for his upcoming milestone birthday, hoping it will be devoid of such fiery incidents. As he remains committed to reaching the age of 100 while enjoying his passion for dancing, he expressed that there are still many things he wishes to achieve.

“It’s still not enough,” he said. “I need more time. I’ve got plans.”