LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.
With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community.
“Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy,” said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned “pretty bad” in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years.
The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.
Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen.
“It’s like when someone dies suddenly,” he said. “It’s like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That’s how shocking it was.”
During Guttenberg’s stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.
“I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic attacks,” said Guttenberg, who returned to his neighborhood to help others who stayed behind with relief efforts. He has helped move cars to clear the street, handed out food and assisted neighbors from out their homes.
"All these houses behind me burned to the ground where their families enjoyed wonderful times together with their friends and family," said Guttenberg while pointing at one charred home before dropping his head in sadness. “There's really a lot of pain going on right now. I'm doing whatever I can to help alleviate it.”
For those looking to help, Guttenberg suggested starting with a simple call or text to ask displaced neighbors what they might need like food, supplies or emotional support. He also encouraged those who can return to their homes, if safe, to check on their property and assist others in assessing the damage.
Guttenberg, the star of films like “Short Circuit,” “Police Academy and ”Three Men and a Baby," is unsure how the film and TV industry will able to help during the beginning of awards season.
“Everybody’s gonna do what regular people do: Help each other, give each other food and water, help each other in their backyards, in their front yards,” he said. “Even though somebody’s an actor, producer, writer, director, we’re all just people. .. Maybe people can donate at one point to some sort of fund. But I just think, be a good neighbor right now.”
When asked about the timeline for his neighborhood's recovery, Guttenberg thinks it could take anywhere from five to 10 years to rebuild and fully heal.
“It’s going to be a lot of work,” he said. “It’s going to be unbelievable to try to rebuild this. Rebuild all the beautiful trees, homes and retail shops and lifestyle. The psychology of it all, it’s going to take a long time.”
FILE - Steve Guttenberg attends the The 2011 Wired Store opening launch party in New York, Nov. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Brad Barket, File)
Homes are seen burned while a few still stand, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The sun sets over damage from the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a salary arbitration hearing when the first baseman agreed Thursday to a $28.5 million, one-year contract on the day players and teams exchanged proposed figures.
Houston left-hander Framber Valdez also was among 148 players reaching deals, getting an $18 million, one-year contract.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker asked for the highest amount among 17 players who swapped figures at $17.5 million. He was offered $15 million.
Washington first baseman Nathaniel Lowe asked for $11.1 million and was offered $10.3 million, and San Diego right-hander Michael King requested $8.8 million and was offered $7,325,000.
Guerrero and Valdez can become free agents after the World Series. Guerrero, a son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, won a $19.9 million salary last year in a record high for an arbitration decision when a panel picked his figure rather than the Blue Jays’ $18.05 million offer.
Juan Soto set a record for an arbitration-eligible player when he agreed last year to a $31 million deal with the New York Yankees, topping Shohei Ohtani’s $30 million 2023 contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Soto became a free agent in November and signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets.
Among those who agreed to deals were San Diego infielder Luis Arraez ($14 million) and right-hander Dylan Cease ($13.75 million), Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen ($13.5 million) and first baseman Josh Naylor ($10.9 million), Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena ($11.3 million) and Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal ($10.15 million). Arraez lost his hearing last year and earned $10.6 million.
Also agreeing were Philadelphia left-hander Ranger Suárez ($8.8 million), Cincinnati right-hander Brady Singer ($8.75 million), Baltimore outfielder Cedric Mullins ($8,725,000), New York Yankees closer Devin Williams ($8.6 million), St. Louis closer Ryan Helsley ($8.2 million), Toronto outfielder Daulton Varsho ($8.2 million) and Milwaukee right-hander Aaron Civale ($2 million).
For players failing to reach agreements, hearings will be scheduled before three-person panels from Jan. 27 through Feb. 14 at St. Petersburg, Florida.
Players went 9-6 in hearings last winter, leading teams with a 353-266 advantage since arbitration started in 1974. The 15 hearings were down from 19 last year, when the clubs won 13, but up from 13 in 2022, when teams won nine. Players had a winning record for the first time since going 6-4 in 2019.
A total of 169 players were eligible for arbitration after the November deadline for teams to tender 2025 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters, down from 238 at the start of the prior week.
All agreements for arbitration-eligible players are guaranteed but deals that go to panel decisions are not.
San Francisco third baseman J.D. Davis and New York Mets right-hander Phil Bickford were released after winning their cases last year.
Davis received $1,112,903. in termination pay rather than a $6.9 million salary and Bickford got $217,742 rather than the $900,000. Davis then signed a $2.5 million deal with Oakland and Bickford got a deal with the Yankees that paid $1.1 million while in the major leagues and $180,000 while in the minors.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
FILE - San Diego Padres' Luis Arraez works the infield during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE - Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker watches his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts as he flies out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
