The legendary actor Dick Van Dyke and his wife, Arlene Silver, recently faced the fierce wildfires sweeping through Southern California. Despite these challenging circumstances, the famous Mary Poppins star, now 99, chose to remain at his beloved Malibu home. Arlene, 53, shared insights into their situation during an Instagram Live session, proudly confirming that although many properties have been damaged, their home remains safe for now.
From her car, Arlene disclosed that despite a minor incident with their guest house which caught fire, damage was fortunately limited. Many homes, including celebrity residences, in Malibu and nearby places have not been as lucky.
The charming coastal community of Pacific Palisades has been seriously affected by the Palisades fire, leaving Dick and Arlene without power in their Malibu residence. They rely on a trusty gas generator to keep things functional amidst the crisis.
Arlene candidly admitted that despite natureโs harsh tests, neither she nor Van Dyke feels compelled to pack up and leave their cherished home. The veteran actor has seen it allโwildfires arenโt new to him in this scenic locale.
โMy main focus has been keeping Dick warm and entertained during these times. With no regular electricity, we are without Wi-Fi. Weโve been making do with a camper for cooking and charging our devices,โ Arlene explained.
She added with warmth, โDick finds comfort here more than anywhere else; itโs where he feels most cared for.โ
Reflectively, Arlene observed, โI canโt imagine any other seniors enduring this the way he does.โ
Just last monthโa short while before his 99th birthdayโthe Hollywood icon experienced another evacuation due to the near encroachment of the Franklin fire upon their Los Angeles home.
Gratefully, he was aided to safety by generous neighbors. After the ordeal, Van Dyke turned to Facebook, assuring his concerned fans of their safe evacuation and the well-being of their pets.
