Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh. Photo:

WireImage; Getty

Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh are opening up about their split after 17 years of marriage — at the same time as they evacuate from the blazing Los Angeles wildfires.

On Thursday, Jan. 9 — just one day after the Dexter actress, 46, filed for divorce, as PEOPLE previously reported — the former couple shared a statement with their social media followers about their split, and their evacuation from the over 37,000 total acres of fire ablaze in Los Angeles County.

In an Instagram post, she and Routh, 45, opened up about their 21 years of dating and marriage and decision to begin co-parenting their 12-year-old son, Leo.

“To everyone who has loved and supported us, we have some personal news to share,” they began. “After 21 years together, and 17 years of marriage, we have decided to begin a new journey, and enter this next chapter of life as friends and co-parents,” the statement continued.

“We are now and forever rooting for each other as we move through this wild adventure called life. Our son is, and will always be, our highest priority, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate this transition,” the pair concluded. “With love and gratitude, B&C.”

Routh and Ford in 2018. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

In the caption, Ford wrote about evacuating from the fires, explaining that they were grabbing “go-bags” amidst the blaze.

“We were focused on grabbing our go-bags and evacuating yesterday,” Ford captioned the post, alongside her and Routh’s statement.

“It feels ridiculous to post this statement with fires still raging, but an online publication announced our news before we could. We are safe, but in shock and grief for our friends who have lost their homes and businesses,” she continued, noting that she would be adding links to resources for those impacted by the L.A. fires. “Our hearts break for our community devastated by the ongoing fires. We love you Los Angeles❤️.”

According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Ford filed for divorce in Los Angeles, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. Neither she nor her attorneys provided a date of separation.

The former couple got married in November 2007 in Santa Barbara. Ford has requested joint legal and physical custody of their son, and also requested spousal support from the Superman Returns star.

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The pair worked together on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow series for three seasons, before both leaving the show in 2020.

“Getting to work together, the two of us, and do the comedy and play off each other has been really amazing and just keeps building and building,” he told PEOPLE Now of working with Ford in 2019.

Ford and Routh got engaged in 2006 after three years of dating, a rep for Routh confirmed to PEOPLE at the time.