According to a letter obtained by CBS News that was issued Wednesday to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members, the wildfires that are destroying a significant portion of Los Angeles County have caused a two-day delay in the Academy Awards nomination voting process and announcements.
Voting for nominees for the 97th Oscars was delayed to January 14th, per Academy CEO Bill Kramer’s letter. The show to announce the nominations has been rescheduled until January 19.
“We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California,” the letter read. “So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”
Several more events scheduled for the next few days were also canceled by Academy administrators. They included a series of talent “bake-offs” featuring hairstylists, makeup artists, and Los Angeles makeup visual effects and sound branch crews.
On March 2, the Oscars will be presented at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.