Actor Steve Guttenberg returns to his once-lush Pacific Palisades neighborhood now charred by devastating wildfire

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim actuality: The treacherous wildfire that tore via the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.

With properties smoldered, streets emptied and buddies scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the many lucky. His property was miraculously spared. However the actor-producer nonetheless struggled to reconcile his reduction with the haunting sight of his ravaged, as soon as lavish neighborhood.

“Simply this morning, I awakened and I used to be actually acutely aware of my psychological state and my psychological well being, as a result of the final three days, I’ve seen a lot tragedy,” mentioned Guttenberg, pacing via the ruins of his neighborhood. He mentioned his house has electrical energy however no working water.

Guttenberg thanked God that his block was secure, however he mentioned about 20 properties had been burned “fairly dangerous” in his 80-home neighborhood after wind-whipped fires tore throughout Los Angeles, destroying properties, clogging roadways as tens of hundreds fled because the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He mentioned the fires are the worst he is ever seen in his 66-years.

The wildfires have burned the properties of a number of celebrities together with Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.

Guttenberg mentioned he by no means anticipated all of this to occur.

“It is like when somebody dies abruptly,” he mentioned. “It is like when somebody will get hit by a automotive. You by no means anticipate that to occur. That is how stunning it was.”

Throughout Guttenberg’s stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm timber, properties lowered to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.

“I’ve seen individuals scared, individuals in wheelchairs, moms and dads looking for their youngsters, individuals having nervousness and panic assaults,” mentioned Guttenberg, who returned to his neighborhood to assist others who stayed behind with reduction efforts. He has helped transfer vehicles to clear the road, handed out meals and assisted neighbors from out their properties.

“All these homes behind me burned to the bottom the place their households loved fantastic occasions along with their family and friends,” mentioned Guttenberg whereas pointing at one charred house earlier than dropping his head in unhappiness. “There’s actually loads of ache occurring proper now. I am doing no matter I can to assist alleviate it.”

For these seeking to assist, Guttenberg urged beginning with a easy name or textual content to ask displaced neighbors what they may want like meals, provides or emotional assist. He additionally inspired those that can return to their properties, if secure, to verify on their property and help others in assessing the harm.

Guttenberg, the star of movies like “Quick Circuit,” “Police Academy and “Three Males and a Child,” is not sure how the movie and TV trade will capable of assist in the course of the starting of awards season.

“Everyone’s gonna do what common individuals do: Assist one another, give one another meals and water, assist one another of their backyards, of their entrance yards,” he mentioned. “Despite the fact that any person’s an actor, producer, author, director, we’re all simply individuals. .. Possibly individuals can donate at one level to some form of fund. However I simply suppose, be a great neighbor proper now.”

When requested in regards to the timeline for his neighborhood’s restoration, Guttenberg thinks it may take anyplace from 5 to 10 years to rebuild and totally heal.

“It may be loads of work,” he mentioned. “It may be unbelievable to attempt to rebuild this. Rebuild all the attractive timber, properties and retail outlets and way of life. The psychology of all of it, it should take a very long time.”