Lakers coach Redick says people are ‘freaking out’ as his family is evacuated due to Los Angeles wildfires
DALLAS (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick said his family was forced to evacuate their home in Southern California on Tuesday because of wildfires ravaged by strong winds around Los Angeles.
The fire ripped through the Los Angeles hillside where Reddick lives with other celebrities, destroying homes in Pacific Palisades and prompting evacuations for tens of thousands of people.
Before the Lakers took on the Mavericks in Dallas, Redick acknowledged the seriousness of the situation affecting his family and neighbors.
News you can trust and daily fun, right in your inbox
Experience it firsthand — The Yodel is your go-to source for daily news, entertainment and light-hearted stories.
“I just want to send my thoughts and prayers to everyone in 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 sisters, they’ve been evacuated. I know a lot of people are scared right now, including my family. From the sound of things, with the wind coming in (Tuesday night ), I know a lot of people are scared, so I just want to acknowledge that and hope that everyone is safe.
TNT reported on the broadcast that the Lakers’ flight back to Los Angeles would be delayed. However, the team said the flight was still scheduled to proceed Tuesday night, despite the possibility of smoke-filled skies in the Los Angeles area, forcing diversions.
Officials did not provide an exact number of structures damaged or destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire, but they said about 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures were threatened.
The fire started around 10:30 a.m., shortly after the Santa Ana storm began, which the National Weather Service warned could be “life-threatening” and the strongest to hit Southern California in more than a decade. Officials said the exact cause of the fire was unclear and no injuries were reported.
Winds are expected to increase overnight and persist for several days, producing isolated gusts of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) in mountainous and foothill areas, including areas that have not received heavy rain in months.
___
AP NBA:
