Several professional sports are being affected by the deadly blazes.
Last night’s game between the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames was postponed until further notice. The NBA said it is currently monitoring the wildfires before making a call on today’s matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets. And the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers have adjusted their practice schedules to limit their players’ time outdoors due to the air quality.
Additionally, the Chargers announced yesterday that the organization would be donating $200,000 in wildfire relief, targeting groups including the American Red Cross, the L.A. Fire Department Foundation, the aid organization Team Rubicon and pet rescues that are sheltering displaced animals.
The fires have also hit several major players and personnel across leagues. Los Angeles Clippers’ small forward Kawhi Leonard missed yesterday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, stepping away from the team after his family was forced to evacuate. He had recently returned to the court after missing the start of the season because of a knee surgery.
“Family, friends and loved ones, you definitely have to take care of home,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue told reporters yesterday. “[Leonard] totally has my support, 100%.”
Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick also mentioned earlier this week that his family had to evacuate the area. And yesterday, Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr told media that staff member Everett Dayton, as well as his mother, had to evacuate.
Los Angeles wildfires rage as California homeowners battle an ‘insurance crisis’
The wind-driven wildfires burning out of control in the Los Angeles area couldn’t have emerged at a more perilous moment for California’s homeowners, as officials try to rehab what they concede is a deepening “insurance crisis.”
“We were all thinking 2025 is going to be the year insurers regain their appetite for the market in California, but having this catastrophe hit us right out of the gate is really unfortunate,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based nonprofit consumer group.
“Up until this latest disaster,” she said, “we thought we might be turning a corner.”
The state Insurance Department issued a new regulation last month meant to turn the tide of some of the largest insurance companies’ refusal to take on new customers in California or decisions not to renew policies of current ones. Under the rule, insurance companies are permitted to pass on the cost of reinsurance to consumers, although at an amount that can’t exceed an industry standard.
Strong winds that have bolstered fires set to stay through today
The strong winds that have helped fires spread across urban areas of southern California are not going away yet.
Some 17 million people today remain under red flag warnings that are in effect through tomorrow, and 7 million are also under wind alerts across Southern California.
The intense Santa Ana winds have eased compared to the past two days, but wind gusts are still forecast to be 40-50 mph today and 50-70 mph tonight into tomorrow morning.
For that reason, a critical risk of fires continues today with rapid fire growth possible again today.
