Steve Guttenberg’s Pacific Palisades home survived the Los Angeles wildfires — but new winds are making it vulnerable again, and he’s doing what he can to protect his neighborhood as the fire rages.
“At this moment I have a choice to sit down and walk or get up and do what I can. I choose to stand and fight. And help,” Police Academy star and author speaks exclusively to PEOPLE.
The source says Guttenberg, 66, who confirmed for Associated Press on Friday, Jan. 10, that his house had survived the initial fires, he teamed up with several neighbors whose homes also made it.
Steve Guttenberg remains unrecognized as he comes to the aid of people evacuating from the Pacific Palisades fire
“They are eating together, working to clear brush from the road, trying to put out the smoldering fire and battling the embers in the air,” the source says, adding: “They have been providing food and supplies, portable heaters, water, through rapid aid groups and sharing everything, and they actually take care of each other.”
The source notes that as the wind picks up, things are getting scary again.
“The winds are picking up today so he’s trying to clear and clean up as much as possible in the neighborhood. It’s really a waiting game.”
The actor, who made headlines when he was seen on the news helping others evacuate the Palisades on Jan. 7, later recalled witnessing at least 20 “pretty badly” burning homes in his neighborhood when he returned after the evacuation.
The actor compared the tragedy he witnessed in recent days to a sudden death.
“It’s like when someone dies suddenly,” he said AP. “It’s like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect it to happen. It was so shocking.”
Steve Guttenberg remains unrecognized as he comes to the aid of people evacuating from the Pacific Palisades fire
Steve Guttenberg speaking to KTLA on January 7, 2024.
KTLA 5/Youtube
Speaking to KTLA on Jan. 7, Guttenberg urged people to leave their keys in their cars while evacuating to make it easier to move them when emergency vehicles need to pass.
“What’s happening is people are carrying their keys with them like they’re in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars,” he explained to the outlet. “If you leave your car, leave the key there so a guy like me can move your car so these fire trucks can get up there.”
“People are stuck up there. So we’re trying to clear Palisades Drive and I’m walking there as much as I can moving cars,” he added.
Celebrities who lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires and what they said
Guttenberg’s rep told PEOPLE that the actor is “doing well” and confirmed that he continues to “try to help” after his earlier heroic efforts.
This is not the first time Guttenberg has turned his attention to helping others; In 2024, he talked to PEOPLE about training to be a dialysis technician so he could treat his ailing father at home.
Steve Guttenberg exercised on a ‘rubber hose’ while studying to be a dialysis technician to treat dad at home (Exclusive)
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Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty
“He didn’t think about it at all,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “My dad was my idol. He taught me how to drive and shave, how to talk to girls, how to tie my shoes and be respectful, kind, and thoughtful. He was my greatest teacher.”
While Guttenberg’s home was spared, the homes of many celebrities burned during the fast-growing fires, including Milo Ventimiglia, Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung, Keleigh and Miles Teller, Barbara Corcoran, Eugene Levy, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, and Cameron Mathison.
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David Swanson / AFP / Getty
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The wildfires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7 amid high winds and dry conditions in the Los Angeles area.
More than 100,000 people have been given mandatory evacuation orders amid the ongoing natural disaster. The largest Palisades fire remains contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed on Sunday, January 12 that the death toll has risen to 24.
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the LA fires.
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Source: HIS Education