Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg jumped into action more than forty years after the film’s release when a deadly wildfire raged through California’s Pacific Palisades.
The fast-moving fire has triggered the evacuation of 20,000 residents and forced panicked Californians to dump their cars in the middle of the road as they are forced to leave.
The 66-year-old actor didn’t just stand by and chose to assist firefighters by moving cars to make room for the incoming fire trucks.
He told it KTL 5‘ Gene Kang: ‘What happens is that people take their keys with them as if they were in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people moving their cars.
“If you leave your car, leave the key in there so someone like me can move your car so the fire trucks can get there.”
Guttenberg explained that he has friends who cannot evacuate because of the traffic jam on Palisades Drive, saying, “It’s really, really important.
Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg springs into action as a deadly wildfire rages through California’s Pacific Palisades more than 40 years after the film’s release
A deadly wildfire rages through Pacific Palisades, forcing the evacuation of its 20,000 residents and forcing panicked Californians to abandon their cars
Guttenberg can be seen in 1985’s Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment alongside Howard Hesseman (center) and George Gaynes (left)
‘There are people stuck there. So we try Palisades Dr. to clear it and I walk there as far as I can to move cars.’
The Three Men And A Baby star also emphasized the importance of saving lives and helping each other.
Guttenberg said, “There are families there, there are pets there. There are people who really need help.
‘Don’t worry about your personal belongings. Just leave. Gather your loved ones and get out.”
Guttenberg was one of the greatest actors of the 1980s and recently returned to acting after working as his father’s primary caregiver for five years until he died of kidney failure in the summer of 2022 at the age of 89.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued an “immediate” evacuation order for Pacific Palisades, urging residents to “LEAVE NOW.”
The evacuation notice has caused a gridlock on Sunset Boulevard as LA residents flee, leaving behind their mansions as the 200-acre fire quickly scorches the ground around them.
Some schools in Brentwood are also being evacuated.
The 66-year-old actor didn’t just stand by, but chose to help firefighters by moving cars to make room for the incoming fire trucks.
He told KTLA 5’s Gene Kang, “What happens is people take their keys like they’re in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people moving their cars. If you leave your car, leave the key in there so someone like me can move your car so these fire trucks can get there.”
Guttenberg explained that he has friends who can’t evacuate because of the traffic jam on Palisades Drive, saying, “It’s really, really important.”
The Three Men And A Baby star also emphasized the importance of saving lives and helping each other, as he said: ‘There are families there, there are pets there. There are people who really need help’
Guttenberg will be seen at a Golden Globes Gala in Los Angeles on Friday
“Don’t get in the way of this fire,” said firefighter David Ortiz. “This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a firefight.”
X user, Jonathan Vigliotti posted a video of a car burning uncontrollably in the driveway.
“Come on, guys!” he shouted, his voice full of fear. “We have to go!”
“We were in a neighborhood when it went up in flames. Mass panic in the streets, and the worst of the winds will hit the Palisades Fire tonight,” he wrote on X.
Others were quickly evacuated as the fire continued to grow. KTLA teams also had to evacuate the area in mid-coverage.
Southern California Edison (SCE) shut off power to Cuthbert, Galahad and parts of Malibu on Tuesday due to “dangerous fire hazards,” a alert said.
The company expected the power to be out for at least eight hours and could be longer if crews need daylight to visibly inspect power lines and equipment. The inspection is required before SCE will restore power.
About 10,000 are without power, 5,600 of which are supplied by SCE, according to poweroutage.us.
Authorities have issued an “immediate” evacuation order for Pacific Palisades, urging residents to “LEAVE NOW.” “Don’t get in the way of this fire,” said firefighter David Ortiz
The 200-acre wildfire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and authorities have described the flames as a blowtorch.
The smoke could be seen in the neighboring city of Marina Del Rey
The evacuation notice has caused a gridlock on Sunset Boulevard as LA residents flee, leaving behind their mansions as the 200-acre fire quickly scorches the ground around them.
“This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a gunfight,” Ortiz said
X user Jonathan Vigliotti posted a video of a car burning out of control in a driveway. “Come on, guys!” he shouted, his voice full of fear. “We have to go!”
Fire retardant is dropped over the flames in Pacific Palisades
Firefighters are seen working diligently as LA residents rush to leave the wealthy neighborhood
The fire is moving quickly westward and winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour in Ventura and LA counties, according to The New York Times.
The 200-acre wildfire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and authorities have described the flames as a blowtorch.
According to KTLA, more than 100 firefighters and strike teams are working to battle the massive blaze.