Steve Guttenberg and his neighbors spared by the fire so far have “banded together” to “stand and fight” (Exclusive)

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

“Right now, I have a choice to sit down and walk or stand up and do what I can. I choose to stand up and fight. And help,” said the Police academy the star and author tells PEOPLE exclusively.

A source says Guttenberg, 66, confirmed to Associated Press On Friday, January 10, as his home survived the first fires, he banded together with several neighbors whose homes also survived.

Related: Steve Guttenberg Goes Unnoticed As He Comes To The Rescue Of People Evacuating Pacific Palisades Fire

“They are eating meals together, working to clear brush, trying to put out smoldering fires and fighting embers in the air,” the source said, adding: “They have obtained food and supplies basic necessities, portable heaters, water, through rapid relief groups and sharing everything, and basically we take care of each other.

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

“Today the winds are picking up, so he’s trying to clear and clean as much of the neighborhood as possible. It’s really a waiting game.”

The actor, who made headlines when he was seen on the news helping others evacuate the Palisades on Jan. 7, later recalled witnessing at least 20 houses burned “quite seriously” in his neighborhood upon his return after the evacuation.

The actor compared the tragedy he witnessed in recent days to sudden death.

“It’s like when someone dies suddenly,” he told P.A.. “It’s like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect this to happen. It was so shocking.

Related: Steve Guttenberg Goes Unnoticed As He Comes To The Rescue Of People Evacuating Pacific Palisades Fire

Speaking to KTLA on Jan. 7, Guttenberg urged people to leave keys in their cars while they evacuate so it will be easier to move them when emergency vehicles need to pass.

“What happens is people take 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 told the outlet. “If you leave your car behind, leave the key in there so a guy like me can move your car so so those fire trucks can get up there.”

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

Related: Celebrities Who Lost Their Homes in the Los Angeles Fires and What They Said

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

This isn’t the first time Guttenberg has dedicated himself to helping others; in 2024, he spoke with PEOPLE about training to become a dialysis technician so he could care for his sick father at home.

Related: Steve Guttenberg Trained on a ‘Rubber Hose’ While Learning to Become a Dialysis Technician to Care for Dad at Home (Exclusive)

“We didn’t think 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 how to be respectful, and kind, and caring. He was my greatest teacher.

While Guttenberg’s house was spared, the homes of many celebrities burned in 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.

More than 100,000 people have received 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 rose to 24 people.

Click here to learn more about how to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.

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