Dick Van Dyke's life took a terrifying turn as wildfires engulfed his Malibu mansion. On that fateful Thursday, the renowned "Mary Poppins" star shared his harrowing experience with a local news outlet. He recounted how he had been desperately trying to untangle his fire hose when his neighbors came to his rescue. "It was coming from the hill, you could see it," Van Dyke remembered. "I was trying to crawl to the car, but I had exhausted myself and couldn't get up." Thankfully, three neighbors came to his aid and carried him out.

Neighbors' Heroic Act

The 98-year-old actor revealed that his neighbors "saved" him. Ring footage showed Van Dyke and his wife Arlene Silver evacuating the property with the help of their neighbors. However, they faced a heart-wrenching moment when one of their pets went missing during the chaos. Van Dyke wrote on Facebook that he had "exhausted" himself and couldn't "get up" when his neighbors arrived. "Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving," he said. Thankfully, Bobo was waiting for them when they returned home on Wednesday. "We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning," he added, along with a photo of the furry orange feline.

Fire's Devastation

The Franklin Fire started as a small brushfire on Monday night but quickly spread beyond the Pacific Coast Highway, incinerating over 4000 acres in Malibu and causing thousands to evacuate the area. Other stars like Cher, Barbra Streisand, Ricki Lake, and Mark Hamill were also impacted by the inferno. Cher's publicist told the New York Times that she and her pets had safely checked into a hotel. Hamill, on his part, told his Instagram followers that he was "in lockdown because of the Malibu fires." He added, "Please stay safe everyone! I'm not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle."

Home's Survival

Thankfully, Van Dyke's home was left standing. Despite the intense fire, it managed to withstand the blaze. There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist. But, thankfully, Bobo was found unharmed. This incident serves as a reminder of the power and danger of wildfires and the importance of community support during such crises.