Games, fire crews with Utah ties affected by California blazes

The effects of the devastating wildfires sweeping across Southern California are reaching as far as Utah, with BYU and University of Utah coaches and players looking at likely relocation or postponement of sporting events and firefighters statewide looking to lend a hand battling blazes.

And all LDS Church missionaries assigned to San Diego are not only safe and accounted for but are involved in aid relief for those displaced by the fires.

California leaders have pleaded for help from other states — and Utah is responding.

Four engines from Cedar City are on their way, and calls are being made to bring in units from Logan, Salt Lake City and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the relevance of sports is being put in proper perspective, with Southern California players, coaches and staffs from the preps to the pros more worried about health, home and personal safety.

Most early week high school competitions and practices in San Diego were cancelled Monday, with events later in the week being evaluated — including BYU's football game Saturday night against host San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium and the SDSU-hosted Mountain West Conference cross country championships Saturday morning at Mission Bay Park.

Officials from San Diego State, BYU, Utah and the Mountain West Conference are monitoring what impact the current fires and resulting air quality may have on the two events, as well as the availability of Qualcomm Stadium and the appropriateness of contesting athletic events in an area more concerned with the surrounding natural disasters.

As of Monday, Qualcomm Stadium and its parking lots were being used to house evacuees, with the on-site Aztec ticket office closed indefinitely. Although SDSU itself was not threatened by the fire, classes were cancelled Monday and today and the campus closed, while students and staff were cautioned to stay indoors and minimize exposure to the smoke and dust in the air.

The San Diego State football team didn't practice Monday — in part because it normally takes Mondays off and in part because of the poor air quality.

BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe told media representatives at Monday's BYU practice that he and SDSU counterpart Jeff Schemmel had been in contact and would revisit Saturday's game today. If San Diego State is unable to practice today or if Qualcomm is unavailable because of its use for evacuees, a decision — likely to postpone the game — would be made.