By Rory Carroll
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -The NFL said it is continuing preparations to hold the Vikings-Rams playoff game in Los Angeles on Monday despite a series of devastating wildfires in the region, but could change the location of the game to Glendale, Arizona if necessary.
Raging wildfires surrounded Los Angeles on Wednesday, killing at least five people, destroying hundreds of homes and stretching firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit, as more than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate.
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community,” the league said in a statement.
“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with public officials, both clubs and the NFL (Players Association).”
The Rams had a scheduled off day on Wednesday ahead of Monday night’s showdown against Minnesota at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale is the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
The playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers, who face the Texans in Houston on Saturday, curbed their players’ time outdoors during their practice on Wednesday to limit exposure to smoke, ESPN reported.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires,” Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp posted on social media.
“Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances.
Earlier in the day the NHL postponed Wednesday’s Los Angeles Kings home game against the Calgary Flames due to fires.
“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.
Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick on Tuesday said members of his family had evacuated their home in the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
“I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now,” Redick said before the Lakers’ 118-97 road loss to the Mavericks in Dallas.
The Lakers returned home to LA after the game, did not practise on Wednesday, and are scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena, the same venue where the Kings play, on Thursday night.
Fierce winds hindered firefighting efforts and fueled the fires, which have burned unimpeded since they began on Tuesday.
Five separate fires burned in Los Angeles County, all of them 0% contained according to state officials.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Toby Davis and Christopher Cushing)
