MALIBU, Calif. — Among celebrities, Dick Van Dyke is one whose home was in danger due to a California wildfire. He managed to evacuate with his wife and pets.
Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, said he and his wife Arlene and their animals are safe except for a cat who remains missing.
“Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” shared Van Dyke on Facebook. The hope is for Bobo’s safety and for the community in Serra Retreat to survive the fires.
Reports indicate that a house in Malibu Canyon near Van Dyke’s residence was destroyed by the fire, while the actor’s home remained unscathed by the Franklin Fire. The flames also caused damage to the nearby Serra Retreat, a Catholic conference center.
Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene Silver look on during a hand and footprint ceremony for Carol Burnett at the TCL Chinese Theatre, June 20, 2024, in Los Angeles.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Mark Hamill also lives in the area impacted by the flames. He posted on social media that he was going into lockdown.
“I’m not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle,” the 73-year-old “Star Wars” actor joked.
The New York Times reports that Cher also fled her home and had safely evacuated to a hotel. Barbra Streisand is among other celebrities who also own homes in the area near the flames.
One home was destroyed and others were damaged in a Malibu Canyon neighborhood but firefighter efforts helped prevent greater devastation.
Several other homes in the area suffered minor damage to garages and decks. But community members joined firefighters in structure-protection efforts to help prevent further devastation. One volunteer firefighter brigade was formed after the devastating Woolsey Fire in 2018.
“We saved our house,” said local resident Alec Gellis. “In Malibu we know there’s gonna be fires. We prepare.”
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
