NFL monitors wildfires in Los Angeles ahead of Vikings-Rams game

LOS ANGELES — As wildfires continue to destroy several areas of Los Angelesprompting thousands to evacuate and affecting air quality, the NFL said it is monitoring the situation’s potential impact on Monday night’s wild-card playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium and has a contingency plan in place that involves moving games , should the need arise.

Three major fires burned in the Los Angeles metropolitan area on Wednesday, from the Pacific coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade. At least 70,000 people were ordered to evacuate — a number that kept changing because evacuation orders were constantly being issued, officials said.

In a statement Wednesday night, the NFL said it continues to prepare for Monday night’s game at SoFi Stadium as scheduled, but will move the game to Glendale, Arizona if necessary.

“As with all games, there are contingency plans in place in the event that a change of location is necessary,” the league said. “In this case, the game would be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, if necessary.”

The Rams, who have a scheduled day off Wednesday and are scheduled to resume practice Thursday, are also monitoring the situation, a team official said.

The Rams announced that as of Wednesday morning, no players or employees had been affected by the fires. The team is headquartered in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires,” Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on social media. “Thank you to the firefighters, first responders and everyone else doing their best in unimaginable circumstances.”

The Los Angeles Chargers, who will visit the Texans on Saturday in a wild-card playoff game in Houston, changed their practice schedule Wednesday to limit players’ time outdoors, a team official said.

The air quality index in the area ranged from 150 to well over 300 on Wednesday, depending on specific locations, with smoke and ash blanketing the region. A rating of 150 is considered “very unhealthy” according to the system used to measure air pollution. The air quality in Inglewood, Calif. — where SoFi Stadium is located — was 281 Wednesday afternoon.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh had the offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. Still, quarterback Justin Herbert and the rest of the quarterbacks threw passes to coaches during the defensive portion of practice. Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who typically isn’t on the field for practice, was there watching with general manager Joe Hortiz during the defensive period open to the media.

The air quality index at the team’s facility in El Segundo ranged from 170 to 200.

“We’re trying to keep everyone safe and sound as much as possible while getting our preparation ready for the game,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.

Wide receiver coach Sanjay Lal lives in Calabasas, which is one of the areas affected by the wildfires. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Lal had “an intense night” with his family dealing with power outages.

The Chargers announced they will provide $200,000 in targeted funding to the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations protecting animals displaced by the fires.

With thousands of firefighters already attacking the flames, the Los Angeles Fire Department pleaded for off-duty firefighters to assist, and weather conditions were too windy for firefighting aircraft to fly, further hampering the fight. The fire department hoped to get the planes up later Wednesday.

At least five people have been killed in the fires, according to officials, with many others injured.

California’s wildfire season typically begins in June or July and runs through October, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, but January’s wildfires are not without precedent. There was one in 2022 and 10 in 2021, according to Cal Fire.

The season is beginning earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall tied to climate change, according to recent data. Rains that normally end the fire season are often delayed, meaning fires can burn through the winter months, the association said.

ESPN’s Kris Rhim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.