CALISTOGA, Calif. –Firefighters continue to battle the Pickett Fire in California’s wine country as the wildfire threatens properties during peak harvest season in Napa Valley.
CAL FIRE confirmed that some 200 other structures were being threatened by the flames, according to the agency's latest update. Firefighters said the return of the marine layer on Thursday would help keep the fire within its current footprint.
The Pickett Fire started on Aug. 21. Several days later, the fire had consumed more than 6,800 acres. Several zones around the fire were under evacuation orders as of Wednesday.
The fire was 29% contained as of the latest update. More than 2,700 firefighters and personnel are working to control the blaze.
The Pickett Fire is burning near the 2020 Glass Fire burn footprint, according to CAL FIRE. Over the weekend, the fire grew by more than 1,000 acres in 24 hours, prompting new evacuations.
Workers harvest grapes from the vines between August and October, according to Visit Napa Valley. This year, harvest season kicked off on Aug. 14.
Harvest season is also peak visitor season for Napa Valley.
Several area wineries are included in the evacuation zone, including Aetna Springs Cellars, Young Winery and Last Resort Winery.
Napa County Agriculture Commissioner Tracy Cleveland said the county is working to assess the damage to commercial agricultural producers. A local emergency declaration could provide additional resources for growers in the area.
While fighting the fire on Tuesday, Engine 27 of the Santa Rosa Fire Department found a lost dog named Poncho. The fire department said they were able to relocate Poncho's owners.
Early Tuesday, UC San Diego AlertCalifornia cameras from the Pepperwood Preserve facing the Pickett Fire near Aetna Springs were completely hazed in smoke.
According to the Bay Area Air District, smoke from the Pickett Fire continues to impacted air quality in Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
"We’re going to see that continue through about midweek with additional cooling each afternoon," National Weather Service Bay Area Meteorologist Matt Mehle said. "The problem areas that I see for the next few days will be the winds."
New fires also started on Monday in Central and Northern California.
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