[JACK AYLMER]

AS THOUSANDS OF MALIBU RESIDENTS WHO FLED THE FRANKLIN FIRE RETURN HOME, LEGENDARY ACTOR DICK VAN DYKE IS SHARING HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE WILDFIRE WITH N-B-C NEWS.

[DICK VAN DYKE]

I FORGOT HOW OLD I AM, AND I REALIZED I WAS CRAWLING TO GET OUT. 

[REPORTER]

WHAT ARE YOU LIKE 20 SOMETHING? 

[DICK VAN DYKE]

UP HERE. 

[JACK AYLMER]

VAN DYKE SAYS AFTER ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES IN HIS GUEST HOUSE WITH A WATER HOSE HE BECAME TOO EXHAUSTED TO STAND.

[DICK VAN DYKE]

I TRIED TO CRAWL TO THE CAR. I COULDN’T GET UP. THREE NEIGHBORS CAME AND CARRIED ME OUT, AND CAME OUT AND PUT OUT A LITTLE FIRE IN MY GUEST HOUSE, AND SAVED ME. THANK GOD FOR THEM.

[JACK AYLMER]

AS VAN DYKE ESCAPED WITH HIS WIFE AND PETS, SO TOO DID THOUSANDS OF OTHER RESIDENTS.

THE FIRE DESTROYING MULTIPLE HOMES IN THE AREA.

THE WILDFIRE GREW TO MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSAND ACRES BUT NOW FIREFIGHTERS HAVE PUT OUT LARGE SWATHS OF THE FIRE. 

AT ONE POINT, THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED BY THE FIRE.

THE CAUSE OF FIRE, WHICH SPARKED MONDAY, IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

OFFICIALS SAY LIGHTER WINDS AND MORE MOISTURE HAS HELPED THEM MAKE PROGRESS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE FIRE.

AROUND 37-HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY EVACUATED WERE REPORTEDLY ABLE TO RETURN HOME THURSDAY AS FURTHER PROGRESS IN CONTAINING THE FLAMES WAS MADE.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.