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49ers prepping for season with California in 'apocalyptic state'

Anadolu Agency / Getty

The San Francisco 49ers conducted a walk-through and practice Wednesday under an orange sky.

The combination of California wildfires and a heat wave made for the unfamiliar environment.

"We just got back in from walk-through and it's orange out here, too," head coach Kyle Shanahan said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I feel like I'm in 'The Book of Eli' - it's like an apocalyptic state out there."

The 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but the air quality in the area has not yet reached dangerous levels. Shanahan said the air quality index was at 69 during the walk-through and remained in the 60s. The NFL won't allow teams to play if that number reaches 200 or higher.

"Surprisingly, the air quality doesn't seem as bad as it looks," Shanahan said. "A few weeks ago when we had it or last week, it got up, it got past 150 here for us. But, today, when we were just out there 15 minutes ago, that air quality was at 69, I think, which isn't close to what it's been. It definitely looked different out there."

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