DALLAS – Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said his family was among those forced to evacuate their homes in Southern California due to wind-driven wildfires in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday. said.
The fire swept through the Los Angeles hills where Reddick lives with other celebrities, burning homes in the Pacific Palisades and prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.
Before the Lakers played the Mavericks in Dallas, Redick acknowledged the gravity of the situation affecting his family and neighbors.
“I want to thank and send my thoughts and prayers to everyone at the Palisades right now,” Redick said before the Lakers' 118-97 loss to the Mavericks. “That’s where I live.
“Our family, my wife's family, my wife's twin sister are evacuating. I know a lot of people are panicking right now, including my family. Because the wind is blowing ( (Tuesday night), and from the sounds of things, I can tell that a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. I certainly hope you all stay safe. I hope.”
TNT reported on the air that the Lakers' flight back to Los Angeles would be delayed.
But the team said the flight is still scheduled for Tuesday night, despite heavy smoke in the Los Angeles area that could force alternate routes.
Officials did not say exactly how many structures were damaged or destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfires, but about 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures were destroyed. He said he was under threat.
The fire started around 10:30 a.m., shortly after the Santa Ana storm, which the National Weather Service warned could be “life-threatening” and the strongest to hit Southern California in more than a decade. The exact cause of the fire is unknown and no injuries were reported, officials said.
Winds are expected to pick up overnight and continue for several days, with isolated gusts exceeding 100 mph (100 mph) in mountains and hills, including areas that have not seen significant rain in months. .
