Firefighters have started to make progress on the Pickett Fire burning in Napa County.
The fire is now 5% contained, Cal Fire said in a mid-day update Friday. About 2,000 acres are estimated to have burned. That number is likely to rise.
“Today and tomorrow will be pretty darn critical” for building more lines of containment around the fire, said Mike Wilson of the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation. Wilson assisted with the fire response Thursday night after the fire broke out.
On Friday, firefighters used bulldozers to reinforce firebreaks and access roads, some of which were previously laid down during the Glass Fire, which burned in the same area five years ago.
“We have been able to utilize some of the fire history in the region, reestablishing old fire access roads,” said Jason Clay, Cal Fire public information officer with the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit.
Crews have also used lines constructed by Napa Firewise to build contingency lines for backup in case the fire makes unexpected runs, Clay said.
Dozer crews are being supported by aircraft, engines, water tenders and hand crews to connect fuel breaks and control lines in this remote, rugged area to protect communities to the east of the fire, including Pope Valley, Angwin, Deer Park and Larkmead. More than 400 people are assigned to work on the fire.
Crews will work overnight on the fire, said Clay.
As of Friday afternoon, Cal Fire reported no loss of life, injuries or structures damaged.
Clay estimated fewer than 40 people were under evacuation orders. Many more, however, are under evacuation warnings and are advised to prepare to leave quickly, if needed.
The fire is responding to vegetation and the landscape primarily, not behaving as a wind-driven fire, said Wilson. That’s good because wind-driven fires are generally more destructive and harder to suppress than fuel- and terrain-driven fires.
Winds could pick up late Friday, however, Wilson added. The fire is burning in an area of mostly grass and brush, with some trees.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Cal Fire investigators visited the scene on Thursday, off Pickett Road in Calistoga, to try to determine the cause of ignition.
The Bay Area Air Quality District issued an air quality advisory due to smoke from the fire.
The smoke may be affecting grapes on the vine, ripening before harvest. Wine makers contacted by KQED said they would be testing this year’s grapes for smoke taint.
To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.