Dick Van Dyke Details 'Exhausting' Escape from Malibu Wildfires: ‘I Was Trying to Crawl to the Car’

Mar. 15, 2025

Dick Van Dyke has revealed the details of his escape.Photo:Paul Morigi/Getty; Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty; Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Dick Van Dykeis reflecting on hislucky escapefrom the Malibu, Calif., wildfires.The screen legend, who turns 99 on Friday, Dec. 13., told a local news outlet that his neighbors “saved” him.“It was coming from the hill, you could see it,” theMary Poppinsstar said in an interview that aired on theTodayshow, Thursday, Dec. 12. “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.”Van Dyke then shared that it was his neighbors who rescued him. “Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”The legendary actor was captured on footage taken from his own Ring Doorbell camera evacuating his property alongside his wifeArlene Silverand their pets.On Tuesday, Dec. 10., the star had reassured fans that he had escaped the blaze in a post shared toFacebook.Dick Van Dyke, May 2021.Paul Morigi/Getty“Arlene and I have safely evacuated,” he wrote, adding that one of their pets had gone missing during the event.“Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote. “We’re praying he’ll be okay and that our community inSerra Retreatwill survive these terrible fires.”Later that day, heshared a videoof Bobo with the caption: “Hoping Bobo is okay.” But Bobo’s story has a happy ending as the father-of-four revealed in a subsequent Facebook post on Thursday, Dec. 12 that the orange cat had been found.“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,” he wrote alongside a love heart emoji.Van Dyke is one of tens of thousands of people who had to be evacuated from the Malibu area after the Franklin Fire which began on Monday, Dec. 9.Other famous faces who have also had to leave their homes include legendary singerCher, 78.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Franklin Fire has forced many people out of their homes.Apu Gomes/Getty"Cher was required to evacuate her home and did so in the very early hours of Tuesday morning," a rep for the pop star told PEOPLE afterThe New York Timesreported the news on Dec. 10. “She thankfully is safe.“On Tuesday, Dec. 10, actressMira Sorvinoalso revealed that she evacuated in a post onX (formerly Twitter).“All my Malibu friends and neighbors I pray that you are safe. We evacuated in the middle of the night, kids and pets all accounted for! Scary times!!” theRomy and Michele’s High School Reunionstar, 57, wrote.

Dick Van Dykeis reflecting on hislucky escapefrom the Malibu, Calif., wildfires.

The screen legend, who turns 99 on Friday, Dec. 13., told a local news outlet that his neighbors “saved” him.

“It was coming from the hill, you could see it,” theMary Poppinsstar said in an interview that aired on theTodayshow, Thursday, Dec. 12. “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.”

Van Dyke then shared that it was his neighbors who rescued him. “Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”

The legendary actor was captured on footage taken from his own Ring Doorbell camera evacuating his property alongside his wifeArlene Silverand their pets.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10., the star had reassured fans that he had escaped the blaze in a post shared toFacebook.

Dick Van Dyke, May 2021.Paul Morigi/Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty

“Arlene and I have safely evacuated,” he wrote, adding that one of their pets had gone missing during the event.

“Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote. “We’re praying he’ll be okay and that our community inSerra Retreatwill survive these terrible fires.”

Later that day, heshared a videoof Bobo with the caption: “Hoping Bobo is okay.” But Bobo’s story has a happy ending as the father-of-four revealed in a subsequent Facebook post on Thursday, Dec. 12 that the orange cat had been found.

“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,” he wrote alongside a love heart emoji.

Van Dyke is one of tens of thousands of people who had to be evacuated from the Malibu area after the Franklin Fire which began on Monday, Dec. 9.

Other famous faces who have also had to leave their homes include legendary singerCher, 78.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Franklin Fire has forced many people out of their homes.Apu Gomes/Getty

Apu Gomes/Getty

“Cher was required to evacuate her home and did so in the very early hours of Tuesday morning,” a rep for the pop star told PEOPLE afterThe New York Timesreported the news on Dec. 10. “She thankfully is safe.”

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, actressMira Sorvinoalso revealed that she evacuated in a post onX (formerly Twitter).

“All my Malibu friends and neighbors I pray that you are safe. We evacuated in the middle of the night, kids and pets all accounted for! Scary times!!” theRomy and Michele’s High School Reunionstar, 57, wrote.

source: people.com