Steve Guttenberg Gives Emotional Update on Wildfire Devastation: “We’re in Shock”

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Steve Guttenberg has been well-known for many years, largely due to his cheerful demeanor and iconic performances in ’80s classics like Three Men and a Baby, Short Circuit, and the Police Academy series. However, he’s recently garnered significant attention because of his emotional pleas about the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that have affected his longtime Pacific Palisades neighborhood. These appeals were widely shared on news outlets and social media.

Following a week filled with destruction, Guttenberg reached out to The Hollywood Reporter to express his heartfelt evaluation of his cherished community and its ongoing need for aid. Although his house remains intact, his family has been left without water and electricity, prompting the actor to utilize a neighbor’s satellite service to disseminate information about the critical situation and propose methods for extending assistance.

It’s 9 AM on a tranquil Tuesday morning. By 10:45, the serenity was shattered; the sky turned ominous, and a plume of smoke, reaching heights comparable to the tallest buildings, filled the air.

I hopped onto Sunset Boulevard, but it turned out to be a gridlocked traffic situation extending over two miles. In no time at all, flames began descending from the nearby hillside, engulfing both sides of the road. As the afternoon wore on, children were being dismissed from school, and parents flocked to their vehicles. The authorities urged everyone to leave their cars behind as the fire was rapidly approaching our location.

However, I noticed the streets were congested to the point where emergency vehicles like fire trucks couldn’t pass. In response, I began parking cars on the curb as there were no other options. The issue arose when some individuals failed to leave their keys, making it difficult for me or others to move the cars. Consequently, people started overflowing onto the sidewalks.

I assisted an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair whose feet were scraping the ground. He appeared frightened, so I gently cradled his face with my hands and assured him, “Don’t worry, you’ll have a wonderful dinner tonight, everything will be alright.” At times like these, people simply need reassurance. There were many mothers frantically searching for their children.

While my neighbor was away on vacation, I knew his dogs would be left unattended upstairs in our shared building. As I approached, an unfamiliar neighbor residing nearby offered me a ride home. Upon arrival, I found these poor pooches trembling with anxiety. I took it upon myself to provide them with comfort and nourishment until their owner returned.

However, our region remained undisturbed. Our community boasted eighty homes within it, giving us a sense of security. It seemed as though we were immune to any harm.

That evening, I visited a friend’s place to rest and woke up before dawn, returning to our neighborhood. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reach my destination, so I stayed behind and began helping move several vehicles. As it turned out, they were demolishing all those cars. Throughout the day, I spent time assisting people with whatever tasks they required.

On Thursday morning, as I was returning, I encountered heavy traffic on PCH, but fortunately someone recognized me and allowed me to pass. Years ago, I starred in a film titled “The Day After“, which depicted nuclear war, and that’s exactly what PCH seemed like at the moment.

Each day, the sky appears dark as twilight, starting from Tuesday, continuing on Wednesday, and persisting through Thursday. By one o’clock in the afternoon, it seems more like six o’clock at night.

Whenever possible, lend a hand to those who need it, regardless of whether they’re individuals in wheelchairs, young children, or mothers. Strive to exhibit thoughtfulness and kindness throughout the year, as we’re not just neighbors on a single street, residents of a particular town or city; we’re all global citizens. We share this planet together, forming one unified community.

The resources have been incredible. The fire department operates with remarkable coordination. It requires a truly exceptional individual to embody strength, compassion, and sensitivity simultaneously. Such individuals are rare, but we’re fortunate to have 3,000 of them here.

At this moment, we’re in a state of shock and it’s hard to fully comprehend what’s transpired. A wise rabbi friend of mine explained that when someone passes away, it overwhelms our brains. It doesn’t feel genuine – it’s simply too much to process. If we truly understood the situation, we wouldn’t be able to cope with it.

Everyone seems taken aback, and this situation feels rather unusual, but I believe in approximately a week’s time, it will start feeling incredibly genuine. We’re likely to encounter numerous mental health challenges, so we need to tread carefully. There will be depression and an abundance of sadness due to the loss of our usual shopping destinations for food. We won’t have places to get haircuts anymore, and there will be no more shoe repair shops either.

What remains after everything else: Rick Caruso constructed this stunning new district in the Palisades, and the material itself is fire-resistant. All his constructions will endure, thank goodness. However, our schools – they no longer exist. Ralph’s, Gelson’s – both closed. Restaurants – all shut down. Buildings that have stood for 80 to 100 years – demolished.

Things can be quite challenging here. Spotting a palm tree blaze is a clear sign that we’ve ventured far from Earth. It might sound like a trope, but it takes only a brief moment for the world to flip upside down, so staying vigilant is crucial.

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2025-01-15 01:26