Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, at 98 years old, owes his safety and that of his family to the quick actions of his neighbors, who jumped in to help as the Franklin Fire approached his Malibu residence.

Van Dyke was one of the notable celebrities affected by the rapidly spreading brush fire that has consumed over 4,000 acres since it ignited late Monday night. Fire crews continue to battle the flames, which have displaced many residents.

Having already faced four wildfires in the past, Van Dyke said he felt unprepared when he first saw the flames advancing towards his property. In a Thursday interview with NBC News, he recounted, “I wasn’t ready this time. I have a fire hose connected to my pool that shoots a 70-foot stream of water. Unfortunately, I went outside and the hose was tangled. I was struggling to untangle it while the flames were closing in.”

“I just wore myself out trying to get things sorted out,” he admitted. “I forgot how old I am and realized I was crawling away from the danger.”

Fortunately, with the help of three neighbors, Van Dyke realized he might have lost everything if not for their timely assistance. According to NBC News, the only damage to his property was minor damage to a guesthouse.

“I was trying to reach my car,” he explained in the interview. “I was too tired to get up, and those three neighbors came over, carried me away from danger, and even managed to extinguish a small fire in the guesthouse.”

Dick Van Dyke back in Malibu home days after initial evacuation

On early Tuesday, Van Dyke and his wife Arlene shared in a Facebook post that they had safely evacuated their home and ended up staying at a nearby hotel, although their cat Bobo had fled during the chaos.

“We’re hoping he’s alright, and that our Serra Retreat community can overcome these horrible fires,” he expressed.

By Wednesday, the Van Dyke family rejoiced as they were back home and had successfully found Bobo. They updated their Facebook followers with the good news that Animal Control had easily located their cat, who was unharmed.

Van Dyke remarked on the firefighters’ efforts, saying, “Their work has been incredible. They had me out of there and were pouring water on my house in no time, but the fire overwhelmed them.”

“These brave workers must be exhausted, but they truly deserve all the praise.”