An NFL said Wednesday that the league is keeping tabs on the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area with respect to Monday’s NFC wild-card game involving the Minnesota Vikings and host Rams in Inglewood, Calif.
A contingency plan is in place for the contest. The game would be played in Glendale, Ariz., if the location needs to be changed.
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community,” the league said in a statement. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires. …
“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with public officials, both clubs and the NFLPA.”
The Los Angeles Chargers train in El Segundo, located about 23 miles south of Pacific Palisades. The team held a shorter practice Wednesday due to the poor air quality.
The Chargers will play an AFC wild-card game on the road Saturday against the Houston Texans.
Meanwhile, the NHL postponed the scheduled Wednesday game pitting the visiting Calgary Flames against the Los Angeles Kings. A makeup date was not announced.
“The thoughts of the entire NHL family are with the Kings, hockey fans and the people of the Los Angeles area during this difficult time,” the NHL said in a statement.
The Charlotte Hornets flew west on Wednesday for scheduled NBA games against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
“We are in communication with the Lakers and Hornets and continue to closely monitor the situation to determine if any scheduling adjustments are necessary related to tomorrow night’s game,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard stepped away from the team to be with family members who were forced to evacuate due to the wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area.
Clippers coach Ty Lue said of Leonard before the team’s Wednesday game at Denver, “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
Leonard purchased a $17 million mansion in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles in 2021. Fire officials said Wednesday that 1,000 structures in Pacific Palisades have been destroyed.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said members of his family were among those who evacuated their homes on Tuesday due to the wildfire. Redick lives in Pacific Palisades.
“I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family,” Redick told reporters Tuesday night. “From the sound of things, with the winds coming, I know a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everybody stays safe.”
The boyhood home of Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was among the structures destroyed by fire.
Kerr’s 90-year-old mother, Ann, still lives in the Pacific Palisades home and was forced to evacuate Tuesday.
“Everything I’m seeing and reading is just terrifying what’s happening down there,” Kerr told reporters Tuesday night. “So just want to send thoughts to everyone who’s going through the devastation of the fire. Obviously, the game is secondary to that and to many things in life. Perspective is important.”
To the northeast of Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire was raging out of control. The fire began in Altadena on Tuesday evening and was traveling fast enough Wednesday that evacuation orders were given to a large part of the city of Pasadena.
That put the famous Rose Bowl, just miles away, from danger. The facility hosted one of the marquee college football games of the season — Ohio State defeating Oregon — on Jan. 1.
On the links, iconic Riviera Country Club was being threatened while in the mandatory evacuation zone for the Pacific Palisades fire.
Riviera is the venue for the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational, the annual tournament hosted by Tiger Woods that is scheduled to be played Feb. 13-16.
Established in 1926 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Riviera played host to the 1948 U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1983 and 1995.
The course is slated to host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2031 U.S. Open.
Also, Pepperdine announced that the women’s basketball game scheduled for Thursday against Portland was posted. The campus is located in Malibu, a hilly area on the Pacific coast that is prone to fire issues.
Malibu is located just 10 miles west of Pacific Palisades.
Multiple wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles area on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least five people, causing many more to leave their cars in the streets and destroying structures, including businesses and schools.
With high winds prevalent, the danger remained high Wednesday evening as a new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills.
“Our hearts are with those affected by the Palisades wildfires and the first responders protecting our community. Be safe,” the Rams wrote Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter.
–Field Level Media
