Thursday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets has been postponed because of severe wildfires in the Los Angeles region. The NBA made this announcement on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the scheduled game.

“Tonight’s NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena has been postponed due to the ongoing wildfires in the LA area,” stated the NBA. They did not specify a new date for the game, indicating it will be revealed at a “later date.”

Currently, there are at least five active wildfires in Los Angeles County, causing considerable devastation. More than 100,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. Tragically, five people have died, and numerous homes, businesses, and even iconic Hollywood sites face destruction or damage, which Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass referred to as a “firestorm” during a late-night briefing on Wednesday. Officials warned that more injuries and fatalities may occur until the fires are under control.

Reasons for the game postponement

The wildfire in Pacific Palisades is devastating the area, and additional fires have emerged throughout Los Angeles. Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County mentioned that it’s premature to assess the death toll. Nearly 180,000 individuals have received evacuation orders, with an additional 200,000 under evacuation warnings. The fire has also directly impacted members of the NBA community, including Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick, who has lost his home.

This decision follows shortly after Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard chose to temporarily leave the team to assist his family members who were forced to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires. Although the Clippers are not scheduled to play at home until Saturday, the Lakers were commencing a five-game homestand beginning Thursday and running through January 17. It’s uncertain how many more games, if any, may also be postponed due to the fires.

Will the fires be controlled soon?

PBS reports that firefighters have managed to slow the advance of the latest fires. Nevertheless, the situation remains critical. On Thursday morning, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed some optimism, stating, “Though we still face significant dangers, I believe the tide is turning.”

High wind gusts continue to threaten Los Angeles and the firefighters tackling the blazes, but recent efforts to combat the flames have shown encouraging results. The estimated cost of damages caused by the fires in Los Angeles is still being determined, but NBC anticipates total economic losses could exceed $50 billion.