Early in the morning on Monday, the Silverado Fire ignited the skies as more than 11,000 acres of the Santa Ana Mountains began to burn. About six hours later, the neighboring eastern edge of Yorba Linda and Chino Hills Blue Ridge Fire caught flame as well, scorching nearly 15,200 acres at the time.

Excessive winds have propelled the ashes west, impacting numerous cities, including Biola’s campus in La Mirada. With the air quality index being at an unhealthy level, Biola Athletics—in partnership with Eagles Sports Medicine—have decided to cancel all outdoor activities for athletes and the air quality will be assessed daily to determine when players can get back to outdoor training.

Indoor activities are still permitted, according to John Wiese, the assistant athletic director of sports medicine.

“The decision to cancel practices is based on a variety of sources, most of which are provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District,” Wiese said in an email. “There is a dust and ash advisory that was issued before the current fires even ignited. The ash and dust in the air is associated with the fires from last month and being blown off the hillsides into the atmosphere by the high winds.”

Since the Silverado Fire is only 5% contained and the Blue Ridge fire is 0% contained, and winds reaching 35 mph, clearing outdoor activities for athletes is going to be re-evaluated daily to ensure proper health and safety measures are put in place. 

“The decision each day is made by the Director of Sports Medicine in a timely manner so coaches may notify the student athletes, including those that would be commuting to campus only for activity related to their sport,” Wiese said.