Pickett Fire in California’s Napa County nearly doubles in size overnight near Calistoga to more than 2,100 acres

Firefighters in California’s Napa County on Friday continued to battle the Pickett Fire, which doubled in size overnight near the town of Calistoga.

In an update posted Friday morning, the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said the fire has burned 2,133 acres and is 0% contained.

Division Chief Ryan Isham said in a video that fire activity diminished during the evening hours due to increased humidity but is expected to increase as temperatures again heat up.

“We’ve taken advantage of this by continuing to use water dropping aircraft to help suppress the fire throughout the night, and we’ve been going direct on the fire whenever possible,” Isham said. “Conditions will change as that inversion layer starts to break and temperatures warm up, you will expect to see increased fire activity throughout the perimeter of the fire.”

As for personnel, the agency said there were 350 personnel working on the fire overnight, which is going to increase on Friday.

“During Friday’s day shift there are 75 engines, 8 hand crews, 15 dozers, 10 water tenders and numerous air tankers and helicopters assigned. Total personnel is approximately 435,” the agency said.

The fire started just before 3 p.m. in the area of Pickett Road northeast of Kenefick Ranch Vineyard and Winery, outside Calistoga city limits.

As of Friday morning, evacuation orders were in place in the following areas.

• Zone E120 – north of Silverado Trail, south of Pickett Road, east of Rosedale Road, west of Pickett Road
• Zone E121B – north of Clover Flat Road, west of Ditch Henry Road
• Zone E114 – north of Pickett Road and Silverado Trail, south of Old Lawley Toll Road, east of Palisades Road, west of Dutch Henry Canyon Road

Meanwhile, zones E115, E121A, E122 and E-002B were under evacuation warnings. Residents can find their evacuation zones at protect.genasys.com. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.