Steve Guttenberg and Neighbors Spared by Fire So Far Have ‘Banded Together’ for ‘Stand and Fight’ (Exclusive)

Steve Guttenberg’s Pacific Palisades home survived the wildfires in Los Angeles — but new winds are making it vulnerable again, and he’s doing what he can to keep his neighborhood safe as the fire rages on.

“At this point I have the choice to sit down and walk or stand up and do what I can. I choose to stand and fight. And help,” Police Academy star and author tells PEOPLE exclusively.

A source says Guttenberg, 66, who confirmed to Associated Press on Friday, January 10, that his house survived the first flames, has joined several neighbors whose homes did as well.

“They are eating together, working to clear brush from the road, trying to put out smoldering fires and fighting embers in the air,” the source said, adding: “They have been provided with food and supplies, portable heaters, water. , through rapid response teams and sharing everything, and basically taking care of each other.”

The source notes that with the increasing winds, things are getting scary again.

“Today the wind is picking up, so he’s trying to clear and clean up as much as possible in the neighborhood. It’s really a wait and see game.”

The actor, who made headlines when he was seen on the news helping others evacuate from the Palisades on Jan. 7, later recalled witnessing at least 20 homes burn “pretty bad” in his neighborhood when he returned after evacuating.

The actor compared the tragedy he witnessed over the past few days to a sudden death.

“It’s like when someone dies suddenly,” he said AP. “It’s like when someone is hit by a car. You never expect it to happen. It was so shocking.”

talking with KTLA on Jan. 7, Guttenberg encouraged people to leave the keys in their cars while evacuating so it would be easier to move them when emergency vehicles passed.

“What’s happening is people are taking their keys with them as if they were in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars,” he explained to the outlet. “If you leave your car, leave the key there so a guy like me can move your car so these fire trucks can get up there.”

“There are people stuck up there. So we’re trying to clear Palisades Drive and I’m going up there as far as I can move cars,” he added.

A representative for Guttenberg told PEOPLE that the actor was “doing fine” and confirmed that he was continuing to “try to help” after his earlier heroic efforts.

This is not the first time Guttenberg has turned his attention to helping others; in 2024, he spoke to PEOPLE about training as a dialysis technician so he could treat his ailing father in his home.

“There was no thought about it at all,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “My father was my idol. He taught me how to drive and shave, how to talk to girls, how to tie my shoes and be respectful, kind. , and thoughtful he was my greatest teacher.

While Guttenberg’s home was spared, the homes of many celebrities burned during the fast-growing fires, including Milo Ventimiglia, Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung, Keleigh and Miles Teller, Barbara Corcoran, Eugene Levy, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, and Cameron Mathison.

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The wildfires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7, amid high winds and dry conditions in the Los Angeles area.

Over 100,000 people were issued mandatory evacuation orders amid the ongoing natural disaster. The largest Palisades Fire is still at low containment, according to Cal Fire.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed on Sunday, January 12 that the death toll has risen to 24 people.

Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the LA fires.