LOS ANGELES — Steve Guttenberg woke up on Thursday to a heartbreaking scene in the Pacific Palisades, where devastating wildfires ravaged his neighborhood, leaving it scorched and utterly changed. While he felt incredibly lucky that his property had been spared from the flames, he found it difficult to process the magnitude of the destruction that surrounded him, with homes turned to ashes and many friends evacuating in the chaos.
Taking a moment to reflect on the past few days of calamity, Guttenberg expressed his anxiety over the event’s impact on mental health. Although his home maintained electricity, it lacked running water. “I’ve witnessed so much devastation over the last three days,” he said, as he carefully navigated through the remnants of his community.
Though he felt gratitude for his safety, he noted that around 20 homes in the 80-house enclave were severely damaged during the wind-driven inferno. The fires, he remarked, were the worst he had ever encountered in his life at age 66. Numerous notable personalities, including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes, and Paris Hilton, also lost their homes during this crisis.
Guttenberg admitted that the calamity caught him by surprise, comparing the shock to experiencing a sudden loss of a loved one or a life-altering accident. “You never expect something like this to occur,” he described in disbelief. As he walked through the wreckage, the sight was surreal, with burnt palm trees and structures standing as mere shadows of their former selves, and the atmosphere cast in an unsettling twilight over the destruction.
“I’ve seen people’s fears, parents desperately searching for their children, individuals struggling with anxiety attacks,” he remarked. Feeling a responsibility to his community, Guttenberg returned to offer support to those who remained behind, helping move debris and distribute food and essentials to displaced families. “Every single home behind me was filled with memories, and now they’ve been reduced to ashes,” he lamented, visibly affected by the pain surrounding him. “I’m doing my best to help alleviate some of this suffering.”
He urged others who could lend a hand to simply reach out to displaced neighbors through calls or texts to inquire about their needs, such as food, supplies, or emotional support. Furthermore, he encouraged those who found their homes safe to return and assess the situation while offering assistance to others.
As an actor known for his roles in beloved films like “Short Circuit,” “Police Academy,” and “Three Men and a Baby,” Guttenberg pondered how the entertainment industry might respond during this period, particularly as awards season approaches. “At the end of the day, we’re all just people,” he stated. “It doesn’t matter who you are; the focus now should be on mutual support. For now, the most immediate action is to be a good neighbor.”
When reflecting on the recovery process for his community, Guttenberg estimated that rebuilding could take between five to ten years. “The journey ahead will be monumental,” he predicted. “Restoring the stunning trees, homes, and local businesses is a formidable challenge ahead. Beyond the physical recovery, the emotional healing will also take considerable time.”
