By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 02:00:44 | Updated at 2024-12-22 01:39:00
1 week ago
Dick Van Dyke, Cher and Barbra Streisand are among thousands of Malibu residents who have been forced to abandon their homes as a raging fast-moving brushfire rips through Southern California.
Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, announced on Facebook that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, fled their $8 million hillside home to safety, but were forced to leave behind their beloved cat in the mayhem.
“Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” the legendary actor wrote.
“We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”
The “Mary Poppins” star shared a 39-second video of his precious orange cat playing in a garden in a follow-up post, writing in the caption, “Hoping Bobo is ok.”
The intense inferno, referred to as the Franklin Fire, was first reported around 10:45 p.m. Monday as a small brush fire, and has since jumped the Pacific Coast Highway and road all the way to the ocean, prompting mandatory evacuation orders.
The flames – fueled by strong winds – moved into the Serra Retreat area around 1 a.m. Tuesday, where they are threatening structures.
The house across the street from where Van Dyke lives reportedly burned down, ABC News reported, adding that the home of the “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” actor was spared from the flames.
Cher also fled with her pets to safety Monday night, the New York Times reported, with her publicist confirming the “Believe” hitmaker is sheltering at a hotel.
Streisand’s team is still awaiting word on whether the two-time Oscar winner evacuated, the outlet reported.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the seething fire had spread to more than 2,800 acres and was almost completely uncontained.
About 6,000 people and 2,000 structures have been ordered to evacuate in an area dotted with mansions, with at least 8,100 homes and buildings considered under threat.
The flames have been fanned by volatile gusts from the Santa Anna winds, which can blow up to 40 mph with little notice. Winds are expected to persist through Wednesday.
