The Rams are taking their “war room” on the road, making their selections in the draft next week from a Los Angeles Fire Department station.
The team has worked to showcase the efforts of the city’s firefighters since wildfires struck the area in January. The Rams were forced to move their home playoff game to Arizona because of the fires.
When the draft begins next Thursday in Green Bay, head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead will be camped out in a room turned temporary office at LAFD Air Operations. Coaches, scouts, other Rams personnel and the media will occupy part of an adjacent hangar as the Rams make their selections, including their first-round pick — No. 26 overall.
The work of LAFD Air Operations will continue as usual.
McVay and Snead appeared in a Hollywood-style video released by the team Thursday that showed them stepping off a helicopter at the air operations center with a caption, “Los Angeles, we’re on the clock.”
“Drafting from LAFD Air Operations is a powerful reminder of what it means to represent Los Angeles,” team president Kevin Demoff said in a news release. “Since the wildfires devastated our region in January, we have looked to bring LA Together to help with the recovery efforts, raise the spirits of those impacted, and shine a light on our first responders. We are humbled to partner with LAFD during one of the NFL’s biggest moments to express gratitude for those who risk their lives daily to protect our city.”
In return for LAFD’s hospitality, the Rams will remodel the station’s rec room to make it more comfortable for firefighters to rest during their 24-hour shifts.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Los Angeles Rams for their unwavering support of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and our wildfire-impacted communities,” interim fire chief Ronnie Villanueva said. “Hosting the NFL Draft at LAFD Air Operations highlights the critical role our Air Operations plays in protecting Los Angeles, especially during wildfire season. The Rams’ generosity — renovating our station and recognizing our firefighters — demonstrates a deep commitment to the city we all serve. We look forward to standing alongside the Rams in this meaningful event.”
Before the second day of the draft gets underway, the Rams will meet with other first responders from the area.
Since the fires, the Rams and their players have partnered with community groups to help those impacted by the wildfires. The team has donated nearly $2 million to fire relief.
