Cal Fire Investigating Handling Of Smoldering Ashes By Winery Worker In The Pickett Fire

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Cal Fire investigators are looking into whether smoldering ashes deposited in the Calistoga vineyard of an acclaimed winery played a role in igniting the Pickett fire.

Cal Fire investigators have interviewed a vineyard employee and independent contractor at Hundred Acre, which owns a vineyard at 2339 Pickett Rd., close to where the fire started at 2343 Pickett Rd. on Aug. 21.

Sam Singer, a spokesperson for the company, confirmed that Cal Fire investigators are looking into the possibility that ashes handled by the independent contractor, who thought they had been extinguished, could be the source of the blaze.

Hundred Acre is cooperating with Cal Fire officials, Singer said.

Landon Patterson, CEO of the Hundred Acre Wine Group, which includes the winery, did not respond to press inquiries, which were forwarded to Singer.

The ashes are among several possible causes Cal Fire is investigating in its inquiry into what sparked the blaze, said Estrella Bibbey, a spokesperson for the Cal Fire hazard response team, which has taken over command of the Pickett Fire from the local unit.

The blaze has since charred nearly 7,000 acres and was 41 percent contained as of Friday morning.

That is up from 38 percent Thursday.

Firefighters are now trying to maintain control of the fire, a tedious process of searching out hot spots to make sure they don't flare up.

Few signs of the fire are visible from Pickett Road at the bottom of the hillside still blacked from the 2020 Glass fire that charred more than 67,000 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties.

Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Trace Cleveland reported that the Pickett fire has caused $65 million in damage, primarily affecting the local wine industry. She said that the estimate is an initial snapshot of agricultural losses. The majority of the damages is to wine grapes and beehives. The figure is based on a survey by her office to evaluate potential damage and losses to growers, vintners and agriculture producers as a result of the Pickett fire.