Fuelled by exceptionally hot and dry conditions, the Pickett Fire in Napa County dramatically expanded over the weekend, becoming the largest wildfire in the region this year. The fire has prompted mandatory evacuations and poses a significant threat to homes and vineyards alike. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire had engulfed an area of 6,803 acres and was only 11% contained, an increase from the previous 7%. This information was reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Pickett Fire ignited on Thursday northeast of Calistoga, a town with a population of approximately 5,000 residents. As evacuations were ordered for some residents, Napa County officials reported that 345 households were without electricity. In a recent update, Cal Fire stated that the fire had grown by 1,841 acres within the last 24 hours, primarily affecting the eastern edge, where it advanced towards Aetna Springs Road. Fortunately, firefighting crews have managed to keep the fire contained within established control lines.
As of Sunday, Cal Fire reported that firefighting efforts were being supported by a robust team of about 1,200 personnel. This includes 140 engines, 34 bulldozers, 20 hand crews, 24 water tenders, and 10 helicopters actively working to combat the blaze. During a video update, Operations Chief Jeremy Pierce expressed optimism about the situation, noting that the recent growth of the fire had actually aided their firefighting efforts. He stated, “Today will be our turn day — where we’ll cut this head of the fire from pushing any farther east and south on the southeast side.”
Napa County Sheriff Oscar Ortiz provided updates on evacuations, indicating that many evacuees were located in “rural and sparsely populated” areas. He emphasized the hope of returning evacuees to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so. The Pickett Fire is just one of several wildfires currently burning across California, exacerbated by the ongoing hot and dry summer weather, which has raised concerns about further fire outbreaks.
The National Weather Service issued warnings on Sunday for “elevated fire weather conditions” expected to last at least until Monday, indicating a high potential for plume-dominated fire behavior over the mountains and interior regions of California. This was a downgrade from the previous day, when a red flag warning had been issued for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
In addition to the Pickett Fire, several other wildfires were reported across the state. The Little Fire in Kern County, which started on Friday, had grown to 2,537 acres by Sunday morning with no containment efforts reported. Meanwhile, the Parks Fire in Alameda County was 118 acres and 75% contained. The Point Fire in Shasta County, igniting on Saturday night, had reached 43 acres by Sunday morning without any containment information provided. Additionally, the Garnet Fire in Fresno County and the Look Fire in Tulare County were also active, although details regarding their size and containment status remain unavailable from Cal Fire.
