Nick Nolte escapes burning home in Malibu

updated 6:15 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2008

MALIBU, Calif. - Nick Nolte escaped a fire that caused an estimated $1.5 million damage to his Malibu home on Tuesday, authorities said.

The 67-year-old actor scraped his arm and inhaled some smoke but was not hospitalized, Los Angeles County fire Inspector Sam Padilla said.

“He is seeing his private physician” for the injuries, he said.

The fire was reported at 11:34 a.m. at Nolte’s secluded Bonsall Drive home. The electrical fire started in the living room, and Nolte apparently tried to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, Padilla said.

Televised reports said firefighters found Nolte outside the house with a hose but Padilla said he did not have any details. He didn’t know if anyone else was in the home.

It took firefighters about 10 minutes to douse the blaze, which damaged part of the house, Padilla said.

A statement from the county Sheriff’s Department said Nolte broke a window to escape the home but Padilla said he could not confirm that account.

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Chrissie Hynde is a long way from Ohio, friends and family remember Ed McMahon, Kiefer Sutherland takes a New York stroll and more. more photos

The statement also said the Fire Department estimated the damage at $3.5 million but Padilla said the estimate actually was $1.5 million.

Nolte’s publicist, Arnold Robinson, said in an e-mail statement that there was an electrical fire at the house but no one was injured and there was no structural damage.

Nolte has appeared in such films as “The Prince of Tides,” “Affliction,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” and “Tropic Thunder.”

MORE FROM CELEBRITIES

Celebrities Section Front

Kevin Jonas is engaged to Danielle Deleasa McMahon remembered as Marine, family man Foreclosure is a problem for celebrities too Actor Harve Presnell dies of cancer at 75 Life of a star: Go to a party, and get paid for it Gwyneth Paltrow says Spain changed her life Farrah Fawcett laid to rest at L.A. funeral 11 celebrity looks we love (and loathe) Kate Jackson remembers Farrah Fawcett Usher's divorce filing surprises his wife Celebrities Section Front   Add Celebrities headlines to your news reader: