Dick Van Dyke has assured fans of his and his family’s safety amid Malibu wildfires.
The legendary actor, who turns 99 on December 13, took to Facebook on Tuesday to announce that he and his wife Arlene Silver managed to escape their home under threat of the massive Southern California fires. However, one of their pets was still missing.
“Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote. “We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”
Later that day, Van Dyke shared a video of Bobo, an orange cat, with the caption, “Hoping Bobo is ok.”
In the comments, his followers extended words of support for the family, who are among the tens of thousands of evacuees.
“Animals have incredible survival instincts,” one wrote. “Bobo will find safety and then will find his way back to you.”
Meanwhile, another commented, “Cats are so resourceful. They can survive what people can’t. Sending good thoughts your kitty is ok and you’re reunited soon.”
The place is still a red-zone area following the Franklin Fire, which began December 9 and worsened overnight, raising the alarm for evacuation of over 20,000 residents.
On Wednesday, officials were optimistic the fire would settle down as the weather shifted out of the red flag warning zone.
“We’re far better off this morning than we were in the last 30-plus hours,” CNN quoted Malibu mayor Doug Stewart.
“Up until this point, it’s been a wind-driven fire,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone added. “If the wind changes direction, we’re going to have the fire moving into new areas.”
Van Dyke’s Malibu home came into the limelight earlier this month when Coldplay released an extended directors’ cut music video filmed there for their new single All My Love on December 6.
The seven-minute short film, directed by Spike Jonze and Mary Wigmore, was shot to celebrate the actor’s career ahead of his 99th birthday. In the video, Van Dyke was joined by Chris Martin, Silver, and his children and grandchildren as he reflected on his life.
“I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now. But I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me,” he said.
“I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling totally against anything intellectual I have that I’m gonna be alright. I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would’ve done anyway. When you think how lucky I am—I got to do what I do, play and act silly.”
