NFL, teams pledge $5 million to Los Angeles fire relief

LOS ANGELES, United States — The NFL and four of its teams are donating $5 million to support Los Angeles communities impacted by the devastating wild fires that have killed at least 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes around the Southern California city.

The NFL said in a statement on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) that its two Los Angeles teams, the Rams and Chargers, and their opponents in the wild card playoff round the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans, had pledged $1 million each which would be matched by the league's philanthropic arm the NFL Foundation.

Recipients of the funds include the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation that benefits first responders from the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County and the American Red Cross, which provides services to those affected.

"We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

"The NFL family is committed to working with the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams to support their local communities in their time of need."

The NFL had already announced that the Rams' playoff game against the Vikings on Monday has been moved from SoFi Stadium to Arizona "in the interest of public safety."

The Texans host the Chargers on Saturday.

The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Charlotte Hornets scheduled for Thursday and as of Friday the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were waiting to learn if their home games scheduled for Saturday would go ahead as planned as multiple fires continued to burn.

The Lakers trained at their practice facility on Friday, where coach JJ Redick confirmed his home was among the thousands destroyed in the Palisades fire, which has ripped through more than 20,000 acres.

"I'm not sure I've wept or wailed like that in several years," said Redick, who was emotional in speaking with reporters.

Redick, who was named coach of the Lakers in June, was living in a rented house with his wife, Chelsea and their two sons.

But despite his relatively short time there, Redick it was a blow