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The NBA was postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’s match due to threats from the blazing fires in Los Angeles.

LeBron James and co were scheduled to face the Charlotte Hornets, but this will now happen at a later date.

The Lakers, one of the most recognisable sports teams in the world, shared a statement on social media to share their “gratitude” to emergency services.

How big are the fires now?

It’s just gone 1pm in Los Angeles, where five major fires are still burning.

Here’s how big they are and how “contained” – meaning to what degree the fire department has them under control.

• Palisades fire: At least 17,234 acres, 0% contained
• Eaton fire: At least 10,600 acres, 0% contained
• Hurst fire: At least 671 acres, 10% contained
• Lidia fire: At least 348 acres, 40% contained
• Sunset fire: At least 43 acres, 0% contained

These figures are provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.

To put these numbers into some perspective, 17,000 acres – or 69km sq – is roughly the size of the city of Wolverhampton, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There are also three blazes that have been put out or are under control.

The Woodley fire in Sepulveda Basin was “under control” before it grew beyond 30 acres, while a blaze that engulfed Hollywood’s Studio City has now been extinguished, with no casualties.

Olivas fire, a small blaze that erupted in the brush of Ventura County (west of the Palisades and Malibu), was extinguished last night.  

Fire closing in on observatory and communication towers

Flames from the Eaton fire are nearing the summit of Mount Wilson, which is home to communication towers and an historic observatory.

In a post on Facebook, the observatory said “there are firefighters on the grounds”, but power is out and “communication is limited”. 

The observatory is where Edwin Hubble showed the Milky Way is one of many galaxies, according to our US partner network NBC News.

And Mr Hubble was at Mount Wilson in 1929 when he confirmed the universe is still expanding.

First death confirmed in Palisades on 9 /1/2025

The first death was confirmed in the Pacific Palisades, where LA’s biggest fire is still burning.

The sheriff’s department has said human remains were found at a residential home in the western suburb earlier today, our US partner network NBC News reports

Yesterday, authorities said five people had been killed in the Eaton fire, which is in eastern LA.

That figure originally related deaths due to the Eaton fire only, but officials have now clarified four bodies have been identified in that fire, with one in the Palisades.

They stress they are just getting into areas that have been limited until now due to the fires and figures could change at any time.

Robert Luna, the county sheriff, said earlier today he cannot be sure how many people have died in the fires.

As we reported earlier, he said they need more time to verify each number – but expects the figure to rise to more than five.