This article or section is undergoing significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well.
This article or section was last edited 9 hours ago, at 15:36, 19 October 2026 (UTC) (refresh). Please remove this notice if this article or section has not been edited in several days. You might want to temporarily replace this notice with {{In use}} during active editing sessions.
Top: Smoke plumes and flames from the Pickett Fire seen in the afternoon of August 22, 2025. Bottom: Smoke clouds from the Pickett Fire fill the sky above responding units from Cal Fire on August 21, 2025
The Napa Valley is "world famous" for its vineyards and wine industry.[2] Approximately 60% of the Napa Valley has experienced wildfire since the 2017 season, often impacting grape harvests.[3] The Pickett Fire burned near the 2017 Tubbs Fire and burned entirely within the footprint of the 2020 Glass Fire;[4][5] the latter destroyed hundreds of structures and caused millions of dollars in agricultural damage.[6]
The day the Pickett Fire started, minimal California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) resources used for other wildfires across the state. Crews managed to carve out temporarily helipads in areas inaccessible by foot[7] because of successful fuel reduction efforts by Napa Firewise.[8] One resident stated on August23, "this is comforting [with] resources all over this thing".[4] Several firefighters were experienced in the area because they were assigned to the Glass Fire, whose burn scar the Pickett Fire fully burned in.[5]
In 2024, the number of prescribed burns conducted in the United States reached an annual record. The United States Forest Service treated 325,000 acres (132,000ha) of forest lands in California, including 72,000 acres (29,000ha) through prescribed burns. Separately, the State of California treats approximately 125,000 acres (51,000ha) annually with prescribed burns. Fuel reduction efforts by Napa Firewise created more natural firebreaks, which at one point slowed the Pickett Fire's growth towards one neighborhood.[7][9] Fuel treatment projects by Napa Firewise led to the establishment of 22 "firewise" communities in the area.[10] It also burned entirely in the Glass Fire burn scar, where vegetation had not yet fully regrown, which slowed the growth of the fire. The Pickett Fire primarily burned in downed trees from the Glass Fire and ground vegetation that had regrown and dried out,[11] and the The Press-Democrat reported that the fire spread across "bone-dry hills".[8]
The Pickett Fire was preceded by "a week of extremely hot weather".[12] Winemaker Jayson Woodbridge stated temperatures reached 105°F (41°C) the day the Pickett Fire ignited, with winds blowing up to 15–20 miles per hour (24–32km/h).[13][14] The Western United States was experiencing a record heatwave. The National Interagency Fire Center stated on August22, "Hot, dry, and unstable conditions are likely along much of the West Coast near and west of the Cascades and Sierra as near record–setting temperatures 10 – 25°F above normal are expected".[15] CAL FIRE officials described the fire as "slopes and fuels"; its spread was mostly due to vegetation and steep, inaccessible terrain than weather conditions.[16][17]
Cause
Investigators first visited the site of ignition on August21, the day of ignition.[18] Investigators originally began investigating a report of smoldering ashes on August30.[4]Hundred Acre Wines emailed CAL FIRE investigators possible information related to the fire's ignition by September19. They stated it may have started in a trailer on their property, possibly due to one battery that was damaged yet remained intact.[19] A then-gardener for Hundred Acre Wines was charged with one felony count of recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest. He admitted to law enforcement he was responsible for "the disposing of hot ashes into a burn pile" that ignited the Pickett Fire.[20]
Progression
A vegetation fire[4] was reported on August21, 2025, at approximately 2:57 pm Pacific Standard Time (PST), near Pickett Road north of Calistoga in Napa County.[21] Burning in grass, it was reported to be moving at a moderate rate of spread with short–range spotting. Aerial resources were requested around 3:26pm. Evacuations were soon ordered, primarily around Pickett Road.[22] Helicopters drew water from local water recycling plants.[14] The Pickett Fire was estimated at 60 acres (24ha) by 4:30pm and 1,200 acres (490ha) approximately one hour later,[23] continuing at a moderate rate of spread.[4] The Pickett Fire spread heavily eastward to the Napa Valley floor.[24] The Pickett Fire was aerially mapped at 2,131 acres (862ha) by 11:15pm. One resident predicted that firefighters were working in areas with "zero visibility".[4]
The Pickett Fire on the night of August22
The North Bay All–Hazard Incident Management Team[22] and 350 personnel were assigned to the fire and continued working overnight. They reportedly used night goggles to continue overnight operations. Containment was reported at 7% and the Pickett Fire grew to 3,993 acres (1,616ha) by that morning.[14][4] Firefighters across the United States were assigned to the fire.[25] Three structures were threatened.[4] Crews used bulldozers to reestablish previous fire access roads from the Glass Fire.[18] It was primarily spreading southeast, away from Calistoga, as more evacuation orders were issued.[26] Napa County issued a health advisory from smoke particles.[24] That afternoon, aerial mapping placed the fire at 3,235 acres (1,309ha), with the size growth attributed to the "fire backing to strategic fuel breaks and historical control lines." Evacuation warnings were issued near Aetna Springs and Angwin as the fire grew into Aetna Springs that night.[4] Overnight, the Pickett Fire made several terrain-driven runs with short-range spot fires;[24] and the fire "virtually doubled in size" due to strong winds.[27]
The Pickett Fire grew to 4,690 acres (1,900ha) on August23, but the fire did not cross existing containment lines overnight.[2] An evacuation order was issued in Pope Valley around midday. The evacuation center in Napa, Crosswalk Community Church, closed due to little demand.[4] The fire grew to 5,863 acres (2,373ha), and additional evacuation orders were issued near Pope Valley.[24] Fire activity increased in the northeast section near Aetna Springs Road around 4:45pm. More resources were requested; all available local CAL FIRE units were assigned to the fire near Aetna Springs Road and Pope Valley Road.. Shortly after 7pm, the radio traffic reported the fire moving north towards Aetna Springs Road and Butts Canyon Road.[22] Crews conducted firing operations to clear vegetation and created temporary helipads to transport more firefighters to the fire line.[8] The fire came within several yards of several structures in Aetna Springs, including the Aetna Springs Resort. The Pickett Fire grew by 270 acres (110ha) overnight, reaching a size of 6,803 acres (2,753ha), with increased fire activity possibly caused by additional wind. Crews managed to slow the fire's eastern spread into Pope Valley; firing operations on the eastern edge of the fire cleared significant vegetation near the Pickett Fire's perimeter.[4]
Ryan Alsop, the Napa County Chief Executive Officer and Director of Emergency Services, signed an emergency proclamation for the Pickett Fire on August24, which allowed access to additional state and federal suppression resources..[28][4] Additional resources arrived to the fire scene; the total number of personnel increased to 2,045. Two evacuation order zones, one west and one northeast of the fire perimeter, were downgraded to evacuation warning zones.[10] Unauthorized drone operations impacted aerial operations that morning, but the fire did not grow throughout the day. An evacuation center opened that day, but no evacuees showed up[22][29] and it closed after four-and-a-half hours.[10] Evacuation orders were lifted on the western edge of the fire.[22]
Containment reached 15% by the evening of August25. The fire remained at 6,803 acres (2,753ha).[4]
CAL FIRE announced the Pickett Fire was 51% contained by August29.[4]
CAL FIRE lifted all evacuation orders and evacuation warnings on September2. Containment reached 90%.[4]
The Pickett Fire reached 100% containment on September8 at a size of 6,819 acres (2,760ha).[4]
Effects
On August30, damage inspection teams confirmed that four outbuildings and one single-family residence were destroyed by the Pickett Fire. CAL FIRE reported the residential structure was likely abandoned due to "its remote location and lack of access routes."[4] The fire threatened several wineries and vineyards.[6]
The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner estimated the Pickett Fire caused $65 million[a] in agricultural damages. Smoke "drift[ed] for miles" across the Napa Valley and its wineries. Approximately 80% of damage to grapes was from smoke and not flames, despite several hundreds of acres burned by the fire. Heat-related damage to beehives was also reported.[8] However, the westerly winds resulted in less grape damage for several wineries compared to the Glass Fire.[30]
About 190 residents were placed under evacuation orders,[31] and roughly 360 residents were placed under evacuation warnings.[11]
The air quality in and around Calistoga, Pope Valley, and the Howell Mountains was "likely to reach unhealthy levels", according to Napa County. The county issued a health advisory on August22.[24] An air quality advisory was issued for Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties until August27.[32] The Napa County public health officer issued a public health emergency, stating it was because of "imminent environmental threats to safe water supplies and hazardous waste and materials".[33]
Legal proceedings
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley charged a 45-year-old man with a felony charge of recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest and alleged the fire causes $6 million in damages. He was employed as a contract gardener for Hundred Acre Wines[34] and allegedly disposed of smoldering ashes into a burn pile. He was charged after he told CAL FIRE authorities he was responsible for "the disposing of hot ashes into a burn pile." His first arraignment hearing occurred on September9, 2026,[20] in which he pleaded not guilty. His next arraignment hearing is scheduled for December7, 2026.[34] He was originally cited with two felony charges and two misdemeanor charges related to the fire in March2026, but the district attorney's office ultimately decided to reduce the charges.[35]
The Pickett Fire started during a period where residential burning permits were suspended by CAL FIRE, but the state could give out official exemptions. Jayson Woodbridge, the owner of Hundred Acre Wines, was previously ordered to pay $4,750[b] in June2005 for conducting prohibited residential burns.[35]
Growth and containment table
Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active;%: percent contained;
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
