Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

As someone who has lived through wildfires before, I can only imagine the terror and uncertainty that the residents of Malibu are feeling right now. The Franklin Fire is a relentless force, devouring homes, landmarks, and memories with alarming speed. It’s heartbreaking to see such a beautiful community being ravaged by flames.

On a Wednesday, Ricki Lake was spotted navigating a police barrier en route to her house in Malibu, urgently attempting to get there amidst the ongoing destruction caused by the Franklin wildfire in the coastal area.

Under the influence of powerful, blaze-igniting winds, more than 20,000 locals – even some famous faces like Dick Van Dyke and Cher – have been compelled to flee due to the destructive wildfires.

As of Wednesday morning, much of the Los Angeles town was under a mandatory evacuation order. 

Amid the chaos, the 56-year-old Hairspray star appeared visibly rattled as she navigated her car through the checkpoint. 

Looking out from the passenger seat, Ricki’s dog gazed anxiously, while she herself wore a troubled look, one hand resting on her forehead in apprehension.

With an unknown companion, the ex-talk show host moved cautiously towards a policeman, presenting her identification card with a degree of importance while navigating around the barricade.

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

Ricki, who’s lived in Malibu for quite some time now, often posts pictures of their luxurious seaside home that they bought back in 2014 along with her partner, Ross Burningham. Since then, they’ve worked together to give it a facelift.

In 2021, the couple got married, and Ricki frequently talks about their happy days in the beloved coastal town that they both adore.

On Tuesday, Hollywood star Dick Van Dyke shared on Facebook that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, managed to make it safely back home before the fire reached them.

However, it was disclosed that the famed performer’s family had experienced a heart-wrenching event during the chaos, as one of their beloved pets got lost while they were hastily leaving.

This small seaside town often attracts many famous individuals seeking a break from the busy city life of Los Angeles with its beach and ocean, yet it faces a higher threat due to inadequate fire-retardant construction.

In the case of the Mary Poppins actress, she wasn’t the sole performer at risk during the Franklin Fire incident. Other celebrities, such as Cher (aged 78), were also compelled to evacuate due to the spread of the flames.

Stars like Barbra Streisand and Jonah Hill reside within areas requiring immediate evacuation, but it remains unclear if they have chosen to leave these zones so far.

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

On Facebook, Van Dyke shared a photo of his cat Bobo.

In this photograph, Bobo, the orange tabby cat, is seen wrapped in a seemingly purple cover, yet the scene takes on a melancholic atmosphere upon reading the actor’s accompanying caption.

He mentioned that Arlene and he, along with our pets, managed to evacuate safely, but unfortunately, Bobo got away when we were departing. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for his wellbeing, and hoping that our community in Serra Retreat can endure the devastating fires.

The fate of the cat will hinge on the extent of the fires, which have intensified dramatically due to powerful Santa Ana winds sweeping through Southern California.

On the other hand, various household pets such as cats are known to have survived wildfires in recent times.

Photos taken Tuesday appear to show good news for Van Dyke — and possibly even Bobo.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when I learned that the house where Dick Van Dyke once graced our TV screens seemed untouched by the raging inferno. While other homes nearby were consumed by its fierce flames, his sanctuary stood strong, a testament to resilience and good fortune.

Cher, who also lives in the area, evacuated in the face of the fast-moving fire.

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

On Monday evening, it was reported by the New York Times that Cher relocated to a hotel, taking her beloved pets along with her. (Liz Rosenberg, her publicist, made this announcement.)

A spokesperson for Streisand couldn’t disclose her current location, mentioning that they were yet to receive information about it.

Stars living nearby, yet unconfirmed if they’ve left, are Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

On Monday, they went to the debut screening of the computer-animated prequel to The Lion King titled “Mufasa,” accompanied by their daughter Blue Ivy and Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mom.

One unexpected instance was the public outings on the red carpet, which occurred the day following allegations against Jay-Z in a lawsuit, claiming he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl while in the company of the disgraced music mogul Diddy at a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Jay-Z vehemently denied the accusation in a statement he shared after the news broke.

Just like Julia Roberts, Jonah Hill is among the residents who own homes in the exclusive Malibu Colony and the Point Dume neighborhood of Malibu. Both these areas have been designated for mandatory evacuation during emergencies.

Lady Gaga has a Zuma Beach mansion that is located in the mandatory evacuation area.

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

Notable figures such as Nicolas Cage and Karlie Kloss reside in this coastal region too, while celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Aniston have previously made it their home for a period of time in this well-known locale.

The wildfire posed a danger not only to people but also endangered crucial cultural landmarks in the vicinity, such as the Getty Villa.

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home
Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

The Getty Museum’s part, modeled after an old Roman villa, showcases artifacts from both Greece and Rome, including pieces from ancient times.

The fiery blitz kicked off approximately at 11 p.m. on Monday evening, covering around 100 acres initially. By 7 a.m., it had swiftly grown to over 2,200 acres. By midday, it was beyond 2,600 acres.

On Tuesday morning, the Franklin Fire hadn’t been contained at all, persistently advancing through the eastern region of Malibu that was already under a compulsory evacuation notice.

As of Tuesday morning, the evacuation order has gone out to more than 6,000 residents.

People living in upscale communities such as Sweetwater Canyon and Serra Retreat were among those who had to evacuate their homes due to the fires. Early Tuesday morning footage captured firefighters fighting the blaze in the heavily damaged area.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/html_modules/2024/12_DEC/241210_Franklin_Fire/index.html

Ricki Lake navigates police checkpoint during Malibu wildfire in desperate attempt to reach home

In simpler terms, ‘A local informed the Los Angeles Times that fires were widespread. Residents of Malibu were fleeing in their vehicles along the coastal highway, moving in both directions, following a blaze that had consumed over 1,800 acres by morning.’

In an emergency notice, the city stated that both Malibu Pier and other nearby structures, along with those on Malibu Knolls Road and Sweetwater Canyon, have been affected. Meanwhile, students and faculty at Pepperdine University were instructed to seek shelter.

According to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, the intense heat of the fire was causing it to alter the surrounding winds and draw them towards and even into the blaze itself. The fire had grown so large that it covered an expanse equivalent to over five football fields by the afternoon.

In a chilling turn of events, video clips posted on X depict Pepperdine students, visibly alarmed, capturing the erratic dance of flames just feet away from the campus library. These students, who commenced their final exams on Monday, found themselves hastily descending staircases to evacuate as worry mounted.

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2024-12-13 23:33

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