Napa County declared a local emergency for the Calistoga area Sunday, calling for additional funding to fight the Pickett Fire, which had reached nearly 7,000 acres and was 11 percent contained by Sunday afternoon.
As SFist reported, the fire broke out just before 3 pm Thursday along Pickett Road outside the city limits of Calistoga, spreading to over 2,100 acres overnight. Cal Fire deployed 435 firefighters and 75 engines to fight the fire on Friday, when the temperature reportedly reached 100 degrees. The blaze surpassed 3,000 acres and was at seven percent containment Friday afternoon, as reported by SFist.
As KPIX reports, the Bay Area Air District issued an Air Quality Advisory for Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties on Friday, which was extended through Monday, August 25. KPIX notes that the agency is urging residents in those counties to check fire.airnow.gov to stay protected from the smoke.
As Santa Rosa's Press Democrat reports, ground crews and night-flying helicopters kept the fire within the established limits overnight on Friday.
Cal Fire sent 1,230 firefighters to fight the blaze Saturday morning, as reported by the Press Democrat. Temperatures were cooler on Saturday, but windy conditions posed challenges for firefighting aircrafts, which were temporarily grounded due to low visibility from the smoke, as the Press Democrat reports.
As the Guardian reports, Napa County officials issued evacuation orders to around 190 people -- as well as evacuation warnings to 360 people -- throughout the day Saturday. Additional evacuation orders were announced Saturday evening, including at the historic Aetna Springs Resort, as the Press Democrat reports. The Guardian writes that 500 structures in the Aetna Springs and Pope Valley region were at risk of being hit by the blaze.
Cal Fire said that although the wind pushed the fire "aggressively east," firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained at 11% as of 9:30 pm Saturday, as the Press Democrat reports.
As KPIX reports, 2,045 personnel were on the scene Sunday, along with "205 engines, 67 dozers, 23 water tenders, 53 crews and 10 helicopters." Favorable weather conditions allowed crews to make more progress containing the fire and managing hotspots, as KPIX writes.
KPIX reports that while many evacuation orders remained in effect Sunday, some residents were allowed to return to their homes -- with caution. A community resource center has been set up at 1307 Washington Street in Calistoga, equipped with A/C, charging stations, and light refreshments, as KPIX reports.
The fire is traveling along the path of the dried and burned-out vegetation left behind by the Glass Fire, as KPIX reports. The Glass Fire, which was significantly larger than the Pickett Fire, causing widespread damage, was declared the worst fire in Napa history, as SFist reported.
As KRON4 reports, Ryan Alsop, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Napa County's Emergency Services, signed an emergency proclamation Sunday asking for additional resources for fighting the fire.
"The safety of our residents is our top priority," Alsop said in a statement Sunday, as KRON4 reports. "This declaration is a proactive step to ensure we can mobilize every available resource to respond to the needs of our community, including coordinating with state and federal partners.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. There have been no injuries or reported damages so far.