Roughriders players have family, homes affected by California wildfires

Cameron Judge seemed distracted.

It had nothing to do with the fact that the 24-year-old linebacker received the highest honour of his CFL career on Wednesday when he was named the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ nominee for the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award.

It was also unrelated to preparations for one of the biggest games of his pro career — Saturday’s regular-season finale against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos — as the Riders attempt to lock down first place in the West Division.

Although Judge is trying to stay focused on the task at hand, his mind is about 2,700 kilometres away due to the fact that his family has been affected by wildfires that are ravaging homes and lives across Southern California.

“(On Tuesday) it spread to the exit that you take to get to my dad’s house,” Judge revealed. “My mom messaged me (Wednesday) saying she had to pack up last night and get out of the house.”

Needless to say, the news hit close to home for Judge, who was born in Montreal but spent much of his childhood in Los Angeles. He also went to school at UCLA. “There’s not a lot I can do from up here,” Judge lamented after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m out there thinking about my family. I’m trying to push it to the back of my head. I feel I did a pretty good job at practice today but it’s not easy being away from my family knowing they’re going through that.”

Wildfires have become almost a regular occurrence in California. The Los Angeles area was among those affected last year as well, but Judge’s father Christopher — an actor and former college safety —

“didn’t have to evacuate” on that occasion.

“It was right around the same areas but my dad was able to stay in his house,” Judge said. “There was a bunch of smoke and stuff, but that’s my dad. From what I’m hearing it’s sounds like it’s a little closer this year. I’m going to find out right after this.”

Upon fulfilling his media obligations, Judge rushed out of the room to make some calls.

Shortly thereafter, Riders punter Jon Ryan revealed that his L.A. home isn’t far from the danger zone.

“(The fires) are still a few miles away from us but we’ve had a lot of friends evacuated and looking for a place to stay,” said the Regina product.

“It’s pretty scary. You can’t really imagine it until you see it. It’s really bad right now. Your heart goes out to those people that are getting evacuated. Their homes and lives are being destroyed.”

Fortunately, Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo isn’t one of them. He said Wednesday that his family in Brea, Calif. — about an hour southeast of L.A. — is safe and sound.

“I know a lot of people affected by the fires but my immediate family is not; thank God for that,” said Fajardo.

“It puts a lot of things in perspective. Like I’ve talked about all year, I get to go out there and play football in front of thousands of fans. Even if it’s a little cold out there, I’ll take that any day, obviously, (rather) than getting evacuated from my house.”

Others aren’t as fortunate.

“It hurts my heart to see that,” he added. “The only thing I can do is pray and donate whatever I can because I know they’re in a tough spot.”