Dodger Stadium, one of the many symbols of Los Angeles, has been saved from the fire that has consumed the city and much of its surroundings. But the scene at the defending World Series champions' home park was anything but serene on Thursday, as new photos reveal.
The baseball stadium, which is undergoing renovation, is seen in the foreground with the setting sun floating over the fiery hellscape that borders the city's coastline to the west.
And things were worse at other major stadiums in the area, like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which is much closer to the fires and faces considerably more smoke as a result.
Even Inglewood's SoFi Stadium, which will host an NFL playoff game on Monday, has been surrounded by a yellow and brown haze from the fire that has claimed at least five lives so far.
Meanwhile, the NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday due to several massive wildfires burning in the greater Los Angeles area.
It is the second day in a row that a game scheduled to be played in downtown Los Angeles has been postponed. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
An aerial image shows the sun setting behind the skyline of downtown Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium.
Smoke from recent fires obscures the sun at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood
An aerial image shows smoke covering the slopes behind the Rose Bowl stadium due to wildfires, including the Eaton Fire, at dusk over Pasadena.
The date of the rescheduled games will be announced later. The Kings said tickets to their postponed game against Calgary will be valid for the rescheduled date.
Three large fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex after two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat erupted Wednesday afternoon in the Hollywood Hills, near the heart of the entertainment industry, but was contained Thursday morning.
About 180,000 people are under evacuation orders and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers), about the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before the game in Denver on Wednesday for what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard purchased a home in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of the home. … He had my full support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Go back, check on your family and your kids, make sure they're okay. And he came back and they were fine, very happy and grateful for that.”
The NFL is also battling the fallout from the fires.
The Los Angeles Rams sent a statement to season ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night's NFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings remains scheduled to be played as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Jim Harbaugh addressed the media Thursday wearing an LAFD baseball cap.
The NFL said Wednesday night that if the game had to be moved, it would be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
The Rams and Los Angeles Chargers train in areas that are not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players' time outdoors on the El Segundo coast. The Chargers leave after Thursday's practice for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers' offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything over 150 is considered unhealthy.
“Heavy prayers go out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy,” Harbaugh told media Thursday while wearing an LAFD baseball cap. 'Also, I have been very inspired by the first responders, firefighters and residents who have come together and supported each other. That has been tremendously inspiring.
'So even though we've been on mission,' he continued, 'abundant prayers and thoughts to all who are in this fight. We see neighbors on top of their houses helping other neighbors, it's really inspiring.”
Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed by the fires.
ESPN's Kris Rhim and Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Times were among several reporters who shared the haunting photos from Thursday's practice in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and offensive tackle Joe Alt were among the players seen working in the apocalyptic scenario, which looked like a scene from Terminator 2.
There have also been calendar changes in both college basketball and horse racing.
The West Coast Conference postponed women's basketball games scheduled for Thursday night at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine was scheduled to face the University of Portland at Firestone Field House on the school's Malibu campus. Pepperdine canceled classes Wednesday and access to its coastal campus is restricted.
Loyola Marymount's game against San Diego was postponed as a precautionary measure due to air quality issues inside Gersten Pavilion while the facility was being renovated.
The Palisades Fire has consumed nearly 28,000 acres and turned entire neighborhoods into ashes.
Meanwhile, Santa Anita Park has postponed Friday's racing schedule until Jan. 16 due to poor air quality in the forecast in Arcadia, near the Eaton Fire.
The California Horse Racing Board approved the rescheduling of the 10-race card, which will be run with the previously registered horses.
“While Santa Anita continues to be out of any active fire areas, wildfire smoke is impacting all of Los Angeles County,” said track general manager Nate Newby. “We also want to respect the impact this tragedy has had on many members of our community, including our riders and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires.”
A decision will be made on Friday about the races on Saturday and Sunday.
The track is handing out N-95 masks to all front and rear workers, as well as goggles due to smoke.