The Pickett Fire remains at 6,800 acres, 25 percent contained
Napa County officials are trying to assess the damage caused by the Pickett Fire, which has scorched more than 6,800 acres in steep, rugged terrain east of Calistoga. As of Wednesday morning, 25 percent of the fire has been contained.
More than 2,780 firefighters remain assigned to the fire, which did not grow in size Tuesday in spite of windy conditions.
The winds will be the strongest in the upper slopes in the afternoon, with gusts of up to 20 miles per hour, National Weather Service Matt Mehle said Wednesday morning. Temperatures were expected to be slightly cooler than Tuesday.
Overall, firefighters should encounter moderate fire behavior, said Alexandre Giery, a fire behavior analyst for Cal Fire.
Much of the fire is in the footprint of the 2020 Glass Fire. Standing dead trees from the Glass Fire have been exposed to more fire, Giery said. They have become weaker each day and can fall without warning, Giery cautioned firefighters gathered Wednesday at Napa Valley Expo for an early morning briefing.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ratified a proclamation of the local emergency declaration Napa County Chief Executive Officer Ryan Alsop signed over the weekend.
CalFire, Napa County Fire and Napa County Sheriff applied over the weekend for federal assistance.
The supervisors also ratified on Tuesday a proclamation of a local health emergency Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Christine Wu signed off on Monday. The proclamation may lead to state and federal assistance for debris removal and watershed protection.
As of Wednesday morning, the response to the Pickett Fire also includes 251 engines, 62 bulldozers, 35 water tenders and 61 hand crews. The fire remains under investigation.
The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has been helping county officials collect preliminary agricultural damage data from growers and wineries near the fire. The information would bolster Napa County emergency proclamation, according to county officials. The deadline to submit the data anonymously was Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday morning, Pope Valley Winery remained in an evacuation zone. Pope Valley Winery owner Diana Eakle Hawkins said on Tuesday the smoke has been minimal. “We are back for essential production and agriculture duties,” she said.
She remains confident the vineyards have sustained minimal to no damage, Eakle Hawkins said.
One risk of smoke exposure to grapes is smoke taint, which can cause ashy and other flavors in wine. The risks of having volatile phenols from wildfire smoke can result in wineries rejecting fruit or ruined wines. Growers who have crop insurance are asked to contact their crop insurance agent and sample their fruit before harvesting their crop.
More evacuations orders have been lifted, including for areas that include north of Clover Flat Road and part of Dutch Henry Canyon Road. Zones that remain under evacuation orders are: NPA-E107-B; NPA-108-A; NPA-E-114; NPA-E-115; NPA-E122-B; PPOP-E-001-B; POP-E002-C.
Aetna Springs Road is closed to non-emergency road traffic. Pickett, James Creek and Rosedale roads are only open to residents.
