UCLA plans to play opener despite L.A. fires

[Jo March]

Rose Bowl located less than 10 miles from blaze in Angeles National Forest

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32634609/ns/sports-college_football/

LOS ANGELES - UCLA plans to play its football season opener while monitoring the wildfires in the Los Angeles hills above the Rose Bowl.

UCLA will host San Diego State on Saturday afternoon at the venerable stadium, which is less than 10 miles south of the fires currently burning in the Angeles National Forest. UCLA is in contact with Pasadena officials about air conditions in the area, but still plans to play, coach Rick Neuheisel said Monday at his weekly news conference.

“We’re going to leave that to the experts, the people in Pasadena and the people fighting the fire,” Neuheisel said. “We just wish them all the best and send out our best to the families and the people who are fighting it.”

Smoke has created unhealthy air quality throughout the Los Angeles area, making strenuous physical activity inadvisable for some people. Yet conditions could change during the week as the fires are contained, and the Bruins are keeping an eye on the situation with help from fire officials.