Los Angeles — Steve Guttenberg woke up Thursday morning to a grim reality. Dangerous wildfires sweeping through Pacific Palisades have left his once lush neighborhood burned and unrecognizable.
As evacuation orders scorched his home, emptied the streets and scattered his friends, Guttenberg considered himself one of the lucky ones. His property was miraculously preserved. But the actor and producer still struggled to reconcile relief with the haunting sight of the devastated, once posh community.
“I woke up this morning really conscious of my mental state and mental health. “Because we have seen so much tragedy in the past three days.” Gutenberg said as he walked among the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his house has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his neighborhood was safe, but about 200,000 people died in his community of 80 homes after wind-driven fires raged across Los Angeles, destroying homes and blocking roads while tens of thousands of people were evacuated. He said Chae’s house burned “very badly.” It burned down on Wednesday. He said the fire was the worst he’d seen in 66 years.
The wildfire burned down the homes of several celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, and Paris Hilton.
Gutenberg said he never expected all this to happen.
“It’s like someone suddenly dies,” he said. “It’s like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. “It was that shocking,” he said.
During Gutenberg’s walk it was an eerie scene, with charred palm trees, houses reduced to ash and rubble, and a daytime sky casting an ominous twilight over the desolation.
“I saw people who were scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their children, people suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.” said Guttenberg, who returned to the neighborhood to help others who stayed behind for relief efforts. He helped move vehicles to clear the streets, distributed food and helped neighbors outside their homes.
“All the houses behind me burned down, so my family had a wonderful time with friends and family,” Guttenberg said, bowing his head in sadness as he pointed to the burned houses. “There is so much suffering going on right now. We are doing our best to mitigate this.”
For those looking to help, Guttenberg suggested making a simple phone call or text to ask their displaced neighbors what they need, whether it’s food, supplies or emotional support. He also encouraged people who can return home if it is safe to do so, to check their properties and help others assess damage.
Guttenberg, star of films including “Sprint,” “Police Academy” and “Three Men and a Baby,” isn’t sure how the film and TV industry can help as awards season begins.
“Everyone will do what regular people do. We help each other, we give each other food and water, we help each other in the backyard and front yard,” he said. “Even if someone is an actor, producer, writer or director, we are all still human. .. Maybe people will donate to some kind of fund at some point. But I think right now we have to be good neighbors.”
When asked about the neighborhood’s recovery timeline, Guttenberg said he believes it could take five to 10 years to rebuild and fully heal.
“It will take a lot of effort,” he said. “Trying to rebuild this would be incredible. Rebuild beautiful trees, homes, retail stores and lifestyles alike. Psychologically, it will take a long time.”
