The NFL is monitoring the California wildfires in relation to plans for the NFC Wild Card Round matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.
The playoff matchup is still scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, but a contingency plan to relocate it to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home stadium of the Rams' NFC West Division rival Arizona Cardinals, was announced Wednesday (January 8) night.
"The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community. We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires," the league said in a statement shared on its official website. "We continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium. As with all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed. In this instance, the game would be played on Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, if necessary.
"We will continue to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with public officials, both clubs and the NFLPA."
At least five people have died and tens of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate after six life-threatening fires raced across Los Angeles County, CNN reports. The Palisades Fire, which is reported to have stretched to more than 17,000 acres between Malibu and Santa Monica, has destroyed at least 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive wildfire to ever hit Los Angeles County.
The latest fire to breakout was the Sunset Fire, which was present on top of the iconic Hollywood Hills, forcing even more mass evacuations. An estimated 130,000 people were impacted by evacuation warnings issued in relation to Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed via CNN.