LOS ANGELES, CA — The College Football semi-final playoff round, NFL playoffs, college and professional basketball, NHL, etc, are all happening as we speak. So many people have worked very hard to make all of these things happen for us, sports enthusiasts in this world. Money will be spent, and people will enjoy all that is happening in the world of sports. But something has happened here in LA that is not the subject of joy for the people in our land—the complete devastation and destruction of cities in and around Los Angeles.
Complete devastation and destruction hit the streets of Los Angeles County + the surrounding counties such as Kern, San Bernardino, Orange, and Ventura, among many others – Image Credit: Ethan Swope/AP Images
Thousands of people lost everything when their homes burned to the ground in literally minutes from the fire that, fueled by 60-100mph winds from the northeast, swept down onto the populated areas of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, and Altadena. The notorious Santa Ana winds took advantage of an area without significant rain since April/May of 2024. Dry and with no humidity, the strong winds found a small fire of about 10 acres and, within 25 minutes, made it grow into an area of more than 200 acres.
Horrifying smoke travels through the beaches of the Pacific Palisades – Image Credit: Marcus Ubungen/Getty Images
Over the past five days, it has continued to destroy thousands of homes, businesses, schools, and churches and has not spared much else. Over 11,000 buildings have been destroyed by the fires, the most destructive in the history of LA. 60,000 more are also at risk. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion. By Thursday morning, the Palisades Fire had burned over 20,234 acres, almost 31 square miles. The Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire had destroyed 14,600 acres, leaving thousands of people out on the streets. As of Saturday, the two big fires combined consumed 35,000 acres, or 54 square miles – 2-1/2 times the land area of Manhattan.
Police officers, firefighters, and EMS service workers have been working around the clock to help those in need – Image Credit: David Swanson/Getty Images
Writing about sports is not a priority for me today, with the knowledge of many friends and colleagues who are now homeless and devastated over the events of the past few days. What troubles me is the fact that our wonderful President-Elect has done nothing but throw more gasoline on the fire with his misinformation and lies about why this all happened—ripping into the hearts of people who need help. His use of this tragedy to further his political agenda and need to be heard daily is not helping this situation and is shameful.
As the people who have lost everything now begin the long struggle to get their lives back, we who live in southern California will keep them in our prayers and do whatever we can to help. The differences that have become so prevalent in our society today because our politicians need to divide us must be put aside.
Firefighting helicopters seen attempting to contain the wildfires spreading across the Hollywood Hills – Image Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Better yet, the people in this country need to have compassion and stop reveling in other’s misfortunes. There are so many people I know, who spout, “I hate California and it is an awful place to live,” that have never stepped foot in this state.
To hear these people laugh at this tragedy is repulsive. So much anger and hate in America.
The Latino Sports team sends our thoughts and prayers to all affected in this devastating disaster. We hope and encourage Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and each league’s respective organizations based in California to help contribute in any way possible to the millions of those who have been impacted.
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