Ann Kerr, the 90-year-old mother of Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, joined thousands of residents fleeing their homes as devastating wildfires swept through the Los Angeles Pacific Palisades area.
Steve Kerr shared the news Tuesday night after his team’s 114-98 loss to Miami.
“My mom lives in Pacific Palisades. She had to evacuate,” Kerr said, his voice reflecting concern for his mother and others affected by the rapidly spreading blaze.
The fire has transformed the scenic Southern California community into a hellscape, with flames consuming nearly five football fields per minute.
Extreme winds reaching up to 100 mph have complicated firefighting efforts, forcing evacuation orders for at least 30,000 residents.
The impact hits close to home for the Warriors organization.
Everett Dayton, a member of Golden State’s player development staff who grew up in Pacific Palisades, lost his family home to the flames.
The destruction highlights the fire’s indiscriminate path through the affluent neighborhood, where million-dollar mansions stand in its way.
More devastating images from the #PalisadesFire. An unknown number of homes and other structures have been lost. The fire was last mapped at 2,900 acres but is likely much larger. Live coverage: https://t.co/0wfQNmlGWx
— KTLA (@KTLA) January 8, 2025
(AP Photos) pic.twitter.com/OOZFAt95uo
Pacific Palisades, a coastal community bordering Malibu about 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, features densely packed homes along winding hillside streets.
The area stretches from the Santa Monica Mountains down to the Pacific Ocean, creating challenging conditions for firefighters battling the blaze.
Firefighters face dwindling resources as they combat the inferno.
Water-dropping aircraft, crucial in the afternoon’s firefighting efforts, had to be grounded due to deteriorating wind conditions and poor visibility.
The situation has grown so dire that evacuation warnings now extend to neighboring Malibu and Calabasas.
“Everything I’m seeing and reading is just terrifying,” Kerr said, putting the basketball game in perspective.
“Obviously the game is secondary to that and to many things in life. Perspective is important.”
Via dailymail.com.uk
President Joe Biden, who was in Los Angeles for a planned announcement, has offered federal assistance while being regularly briefed on the situation.
Meanwhile, nearly 167,000 residents in Los Angeles County have lost power as the community braces for what officials warn could be another 12 hours of devastating fire conditions.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that his family, including his wife’s twin sister, had to evacuate their homes in the Palisades area. He expressed concern about the escalating situation during a press conference before his team’s 118-97 loss to Dallas.
- A third brush fire broke out in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, covering approximately 100 acres with potential for further growth, adding to the region’s firefighting challenges.
- According to Governor Gavin Newsom, more than 1,400 firefighters have been deployed across Los Angeles County to combat multiple fires, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency.
