In an post on X, Avery Williams said his father’s home was destroyed in the fire.
ALTADENA, Calif. — Atlanta Falcons player Avery Williams lost his childhood home in the wildfires raging in California this week. Williams shared the news on the X platform on Jan. 9.
“The house I grew up in is gone” he said. “Me and my family are completely safe and will be just fine. But there’s thousands of families that have lost everything and need help”
The running back, who was drafted by the Falcons in 2021, posted a photo and video on social media to show the aftermath.
“Pray for everybody that lost everything, there only home. People going through it,” he added.
He said it was his dad’s home that was destroyed in the fire in the Altadena area near Eaton Canyon. Altadena is about 15 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles.
He encouraged others to donate to help families in need.
More on the wildfires
Fires have been burning for days in the Los Angeles area and firefighters have been doing their best to fight the overwhelming flames. Investigators are considering an array of possibilities about what may have sparked the fire, which has already destroyed thousands of homes and left at least 11 people dead.
The fire started Tuesday and wind gusts moved the massive flames along, leading to widespread devastation. The Associated Press reported Friday that more than 5,300 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the hilly coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Among those whose homes were destroyed were a number of celebrities.
Farther inland, the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena burned more than 7,000 structures.
Material from the Associated Press was used for this report.