Terrible air quality from wildfire causes Raiders to cancel second straight practice
The Camp Fire in north-central California continues to burn, and now has claimed over 60 lives, with authorities saying there are more than 600 people unaccounted for, and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
But the wildfire’s impact isn’t just confined to Butte County.
Raiders cancel practice for second straight day
The Oakland Raiders’ Alameda practice facility is 150 miles south of Butte County, but the air quality in the area is so bad that the team had to cancel practice for the second straight day.
Las Vegas Journal-Review Raiders writer Michael Gehlken tweeted that the team only held a walkthrough. Oakland had one practice, on Wednesday, this week before its game with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The Environmental Protection Agency air quality index for the Oakland area on Friday is 216, well into the “very unhealthy” range, meaning it is a threat for all individuals, not just sensitive groups like the elderly, children, or those with asthma and other lung ailments. On Thursday afternoon, the AQI in Oakland was 246.
All schools in Oakland and San Francisco were closed on Friday.
Raiders try to keep perspective
On Thursday, Oakland coach Jon Gruden met with players and discussed the disaster, and players are keeping things in perspective.
“Let’s not get it twisted: A one-win season. Disappointment. Having to move practice. In the grand scheme of life, it doesn’t matter,” tight end Lee Smith said. “Of course…it’s a production-based business, and it’s an entertainment business, and everyone loves it, and we’re paid to win. But at the same time, regardless of what goes on in the NFL, it doesn’t matter when it comes to life and the real world.
“I have four babies at home and a beautiful wife. I couldn’t imagine any of them being trapped in a burning home or any of my family members losing their lives. … If my house burned down, and if all [my family] had was the clothes on our back, I’d say that might be a little worse than losing a football game or having to move practice across town. I try to never lose perspective.”
Safety Marcus Gilchrist said, “What we do is on the lower scale of what it really means to be a human in this world.”
Players helping those in need
Gehlken wrote that there isn’t a detailed list of the relief efforts players and the organization are undertaking, but in speaking with players, cornerback Daryl Worley said players had donated to a family that lost everything but the clothes on their backs “and whatever they had in their pockets.”
Offensive linemen plan to provide Thanksgiving turkeys for next week’s holiday.
“It’s very sad to think about,” safety Erik Harris said. “Obviously, we’ve got to change our schedule around, but these people are changing their lives around, their financials. They don’t know where they’re going to stay at. They’re losing loved ones.
“My heart goes out to those people are involved. We’ll do our best as an organization to help out and lend a hand.”
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