Malibu Wildfire: Updates on Celebrities Affected, Including Dick Van Dyke and Mark Hamill
The Franklin fire is currently blazing through Malibu, California, leading to evacuations and destruction of homes. Some celebrities, including Mark Hamill, are staying put, while others, like Dick Van Dyke, have had to leave the area.
Famed actor Dick Van Dyke revealed on Facebook that he and his wife, Arlene, evacuated the region with their pets, but their cat Bobo was missing during the departure.
“Arlene and I have evacuated safely with our pets, except for our cat Bobo, who got away while we were leaving. We’re praying for his safety and hoping our community in Serra Retreat can endure these devastating fires,” Van Dyke posted.
On Thursday morning, an update was shared on Van Dyke’s verified Facebook account, reporting that he and Arlene were able to return home. Thankfully, their house remained unscathed, and Bobo the cat was found safe. “Thank you to everyone for your kind messages and support,” the post read.
Meanwhile, Mark Hamill took to Instagram on Tuesday to inform his followers that he chose not to leave his home due to the Malibu fires. The “Star Wars” icon advised his 6.2 million followers to “stay safe.”
“We’re in lockdown because of the Malibu fires. Please take care! I’m not permitted to leave the house, which suits my reclusive lifestyle just fine,” Hamill wrote.
The Franklin Fire has been rapidly expanding overnight, now covering approximately 3,983 acres with only 7% containment as of Wednesday morning, according to CalFire. By late Tuesday, over 2,667 acres had already burned due to strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity, creating a hazardous situation that has prompted red flag warnings in the area through Wednesday evening.
The fire was reported late Monday evening, shortly before 11 p.m. local time. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Los Angeles County is currently under a red flag warning, as designated by the National Weather Service. Areas like Filmore and Santa Clarita are experiencing “extremely high fire danger.” Some positive news is on the horizon, as the NWS indicates that winds and fire conditions are expected to improve later in the day.
“We anticipate conditions to refresh by this afternoon or evening,” the weather service stated. “All Red Flag Warnings are expected to end by 6 PM today.”