Pickett Fire Poses Threat to Napa County, CA, Wineries

Aug. 24—Napa County's Pickett Fire grew modestly overnight Saturday, spanning 6,803 acres as a crew of helicopters and ground personnel fought to keep the blaze within control lines and prevent it from reaching populated areas nearby.

So far, no structures have been confirmed lost due to the fire, which began east of Calistoga Thursday afternoon and virtually doubled in size Friday due to steady winds. By Saturday the blaze's growth had slowed somewhat. Crews successfully pulled off an operation to reduce unburned vegetation between the main fire and its outer boundaries, reducing the chances of it reaching the communities of Aetna Springs and Pope Valley.

As of Sunday morning, the fire remained 11% contained. Cal Fire said in an update that firefighters' main priority would be to protect homes and other structures, particularly near Aetna Springs Road and Butts Canyon Road. Teams would also work on building new control lines while "mopping up" inside of existing lines.

The National Weather Service forecasted warm and dry conditions Sunday with temperatures a "couple of degrees cooler" than Saturday. High temperatures were predicted to reach the mid-90s with relative humidity as low as 25% with southwest wind gusts up to 15 mph. Cooler weather was expected Monday, with temperatures dropping as the week progresses.

The winery-dotted area in Napa County threatened by the Pickett Fire has seen its share of destructive blazes in years past. Most notably, the region was hit by the 2020 Glass Fire, which covered more than 67,000 acres and destroyed over 1,500 structures before crews battled it back.

But this fire has attracted far more resources early on, perhaps because it didn't take place during California's most destructive fire season on record, when crews were stretched thin over millions of acres of burning land.

The burn scar left by the Glass Fire also has helped slow the progress of the Pickett Fire, Cal Fire said. The lighter vegetation in the previously burned area has made suppression efforts more manageable.

In the Glass Fire, just 185 people were assigned to the blaze, according to Cal Fire, with zero helicopters and seven water tenders. The crew fighting the Pickett Fire has more than 10 times the personnel — 1,200 assigned — plus 10 helicopters, 140 engines, 24 water tenders and multiple air tankers carrying fire retardant.

And this team also has the benefit of wisdom: Advising the broader team on "suppression efforts" are multiple firefighters who battled the Glass Fire.