Steve Guttenberg Assists in Evacuating Neighbors Affected by Wildfires
Steve Guttenberg embodies heroism beyond the silver screen. Renowned for his roles in classics like "Police Academy" and "Three Men and a Baby," the actor took swift action as wildfires menaced the vicinity of his Pacific Palisades home.
"I've never witnessed anything like this in my life, and I doubt many others have," he expressed to CNN's Laura Coates on Tuesday evening. "At 9 a.m., it was a picturesque Pacific Palisades, but by 10 or 10:30, the sky turned dark as midnight."
Ferocious, life-endangering fires have been sweeping through LA County, confronting residents with erratic flames, dense smoke, and mass evacuation orders. Earlier, Guttenberg was seen on Los Angeles channel KTLA, actively working to clear abandoned vehicles obstructing evacuation routes.
"People are stranded up there. We're trying to clear Palisades Drive, and I'm moving cars as far as I can," Guttenberg told KTLA. "There are families, pets, and individuals in dire need of assistance."
He recounted to CNN the chaos he encountered in another area while attempting to return home. "It was a gridlock of chaos," he described, "so I got out of my vehicle to lend a hand. Mothers were in hysterics, suffering panic attacks, worried sick about their families because they couldn't evacuate in time," he explained to Coates. "Children were crying, people unable to speak English, nervously driving their friends' or employers' cars."
In the end, the fire advanced so rapidly that authorities ordered people to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot. Guttenberg dedicated the entire day to removing abandoned cars to clear a path for emergency vehicles. "This is the most astounding wildfire I've ever witnessed," he stated.
Guttenberg is among many well-known individuals affected by the fires. "Star Wars" icon Mark Hamill was also compelled to leave his home due to the advancing inferno. "7 p.m. – Evacuated Malibu last minute, with small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH," Hamill shared on Instagram. He, his wife, and their dog sought refuge with their daughter near Hollywood. "Most terrifying fire since '93," Hamill noted, urging everyone to "stay safe."
Actor James Woods posted a video online showing the view from his Pacific Palisades residence before it succumbed to flames. "Captured this last night from our cherished home. Now, all the fire alarms are blaring remotely," Woods wrote. "Losing everything at once truly tests the soul," he admitted. Woods appeared on CNN, visibly moved, recounting a touching tale of his young niece's wish to assist. "She brought her little Yeti piggy bank to help us rebuild," he said, tears welling up.
Pacific Palisades High School, a backdrop for films like "Carrie" and "Freaky Friday," was also ravaged by the blaze, which has consumed over 15,000 acres with zero containment by Wednesday afternoon. Reality star Spencer Pratt shared an image of his children's room in flames. Both his residence and his parents' home were claimed by the fire, as per his social media updates.
"This is a crucial moment to remember that we're more than just a street, a block, a town, a city, a state, or even a country. We are a global community," Guttenberg told CNN. "In times of crisis, we realize that material possessions are meaningless. What truly matters is humanity.
