The raging wildfires in California have left thousands of families grappling with loss and uncertainty, including prominent figures in the NBA. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described the wildfires as “terrifying,” revealing that his mother had to evacuate her home in Pacific Palisades due to the rapidly advancing flames.
The Pacific Palisades fire has already scorched over 15,800 acres, with zero containment as of Wednesday. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, with at least 1,000 structures destroyed, marking it as the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles County history, according to Cal Fire. Families fleeing the area have faced chaotic evacuations, with some abandoning vehicles on highways to seek safety on foot.
Speaking after the Warriors’ loss to the Miami Heat, Kerr shared the emotional toll the fires have taken. “Everything I’m seeing and reading is just terrifying,” he said. His team’s video assistant, Everett Dayton, also suffered a devastating loss, as his family home in Pacific Palisades was consumed by the flames.
The wildfire’s relentless pace—burning through five football fields’ worth of land per minute—has sparked additional fires across Los Angeles County. The 500-acre Hurst fire and the 1,000-acre Eaton fire have compounded the crisis, leaving more than 200,000 buildings without power.
Meanwhile, LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared a personal connection to the disaster. His wife, her twin sister, and their family had to evacuate as the fire threatened their home. “A lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family,” Redick said. He also expressed concerns about worsening conditions due to high winds.
NBA players and staff are not alone in this ordeal. Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard briefly left the team to check on his family’s safety. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue voiced his full support, acknowledging that such events weigh heavily on the team’s focus. “It’s hard to put things like this behind you when so many people are affected,” Lue said. The emotional burden was evident as the Clippers struggled in a 126-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The NFL has also been impacted, with the Los Angeles Rams expressing solidarity with those affected and first responders battling the blazes. Although the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings remains scheduled at SoFi Stadium, contingency plans include a possible relocation to Arizona if conditions worsen.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, mobilizing over 1,400 firefighters to combat the crisis. Yet, with multiple fires raging and countless families displaced, the road to recovery seems daunting.
The human stories behind the wildfires—families uprooted, homes lost, and communities shaken—underscore the far-reaching impact of this natural disaster, reminding us of the resilience required to face such adversity.