Practice cut short — bad air

The air quality in Alameda was so bad Wednesday, because of raging fires in the North Bay, the Raiders cut short their daily practice.

According to a team spokesperson, individual position drills were skipped, cutting about 30 minutes out of the normally two-hour practice.

Across the Bay Area, horrible air conditions have caused high schools and youth sports agencies to curtail outdoor activity. Many Friday high school football games have been canceled.

“We’re seeing the worst air quality ever recorded in many parts of the Bay Area,” said Tom Flannigan, a spokesperson for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. “The entire Bay Area population is likely being affected by the smoke.”

At Raiders headquarters, head coach Jack Del Rio said the team was monitoring conditions.

“I think we’re OK to work today in this,” Del Rio said.

Running back Jalen Richard said he’d never seen anything like it. “You definitely could smell it. We’ll see. They asked us about how we feel.”

Shortly after his comments in the locker room, the players ran to the practice field and began the usual stretching. Blaring over the loudspeakers: “Smoke on the Water,” by Deep Purple.