As the Rockies played the final two games of their homestand this week under smoky skies, it was a reminder to a pair of teammates of the horrors facing a city they have deep connections with and love.

Colorado pitcher Gabriel Hughes and infielder/outfielder Troy Johnston attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., a city that has been ravaged by wildfires in recent days.

The Autumn Lane fire, Fairview fire and Old Trails fire have combined to burn more than 10,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 850 buildings. The fires have also forced the evacuation of nearly 67,000 people, including some of Johnston’s relatives.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with five counts of first-degree arson in connection to the Spokane-area fires.

“My grandparents live in Spokane, and they’re a little bit more downtown. But my aunt and my grandfather, who’s in hospice care, were evacuated, so they had to go somewhere else,” Johnston said. “I have a close friend, Alek Jacob, who had his family house burn down.”

Jacob was drafted out of Gonzaga by the San Diego Padres in 2021 and has pitched in three games for the Padres this season.

Johnston admitted the fire and loss of property was harder to talk about because of how the Old Trails Fire reportedly began. Aaron Farnacci has allegedly admitted to setting that fire and is being held in Spokane County Jail with bail set at $2 million.

“It’s kind of scary talking about that,” Johnston said of the fire’s origin. “This wasn’t some incident or some accident. Somebody actually caused this. The fact that somebody can do that and it causes so much damage and hurt to so many other people, that’s something you can rally around as a community. You can also check in on those that you love and hope everything’s OK.”

Hughes mentioned the Jacob family home’s loss as well when asked about the Spokane fires, saying the images coming out of Spokane have been hard for him to see.

“I’ve seen the devastation that’s been wrought,” Hughes said. “It’s hard to put into words how emotional it is seeing people’s houses and lives just upended like that.”

Hughes said he is constantly reminded about Spokane’s wonders now that he is pitching in Denver.

“I hadn’t been back (to Spokane) for a couple of years, then I went back there for a rehab assignment this year. It’s like here,” Hughes said. “Seeing the mountains, seeing the trees and just having the sense of outdoors and all of the sights that come with it. It’s just a beautiful area, especially in the summer.

“In college, we always used to joke about SpoSum (Spokane summer) because it’s so beautiful there in the summertime. Plus when you’re at Gonzaga, that town is really geared in on the Zags. There’s ‘Go Zags’ signs everywhere. I think it’s just a special feeling, knowing how behind the school the city is. It’s just a beautiful city.”

Spokane is also home to Colorado’s High-A baseball affiliate, the Indians. The fires have not kept the Indians from playing at home this week. They are hosting the Eugene Emeralds in what has been a dogfight for the top of the standings. Spokane entered Thursday’s action one game behind Eugene, the first-half league winner, and Everett in the second-half standings.

For Johnston, regular life going on with wildfires around isn’t surprising.

“You have to realize that, in Washington, fires are like hurricanes in Florida,” Johnston said. “It’s the same kind of thing. These fires are terrible and you hate they happened, but it’s also something that you have to prepare for every year.

“Smoky air is part of it. Maybe it’s from fires from up north in Canada. Maybe it’s in Montana or Idaho. They happen this time of year because it’s so dry up there. It’s in the back of my mind and it’s something that we all have to deal with. Now I’m trying to help out in whatever way I can.”

While Johnston and Hughes were with the Rockies Friday when they opened a series in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a piece of them will also be back in Spokane with friends and family who are being affected by the fires.

“It’s where I spent a lot of my childhood,” Johnston said. “My grandparents lived up in Colville (roughly 70 miles north of Spokane). They lived on a farm with horses, cows, pigs and all those kinds of animals. That side of Washington is very special to me because I remember it a lot from my childhood.”