Dick Van Dyke evacuates Malibu mansion as wildfire spreads
Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene have fled their home in Malibu, California after a devastating wildfire spread across the area and the actor was left devastated as he had to leave behind his pet cat Bobo who escaped as the couple were trying to leave.
Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene have fled their home in Malibu, California after a devastating wildfire spread across the area.
The 'Mary Poppins' star, 98, and his partner were evacuated to safety following the outbreak of the blaze - dubbed the Franklin Fire by authorities- which started in Malibu Canyon on Monday (09.12.24) and has claimed at least seven homes.
However, the couple were forced to leave without their beloved pet cat Bobo, who escaped as they were leaving the house. In a post on Facebook, the actor explained: "Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving. We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires."
He added a video of his missing cat and wrote: "Hoping Bobo is ok."
Other stars to have evacuated the area include pop legend Cher, who checked into a hotel with her pets on Monday (09.12.24), according to the New York Times newspaper.
'Star Wars' actor Mark Hamill revealed he had been advised to stay indoors. In a post on social media, he wrote: "We’re in lockdown because of the Malibu fires. Please stay safe everyone! I’m not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle."
Malibu has been devastated by wildfires in the past and in 2018, a blaze claimed the home owned by pop star Miley Cyrus and her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.
In a post on X at the time, the singer admitted she felt lucky to have escaped the blaze. She wrote: "My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family and friends stand strong.
"I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely and that’s all that matters right now."
Other famous faces including Neil Young, Robin Thicke and Gerard Butler are also believed to have lost their homes in the 2018 fire.
