As of Saturday evening, nearly 200 people were under evacuation orders due to the Pickett Fire in Napa County. Photo courtesy of the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
Aug. 24 (UPI) — A wildfire in Northern California has grown to nearly 7,000 acres, prompting evacuations in Napa County, forestry officials announced Sunday.
The Pickett Fire, which was sparked Thursday in Calistoga, was 6,803 acres as of midday Sunday with 11% containment, according to a status report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Twenty-four hours earlier, the blaze was about 4,700 acres with 7% containment.
Cal Fire said much of the new growth occurred near the eastern edge of the wildfire. There’s been no confirmed damage to any structures.
Officials ordered evacuations for areas near Calistoga, west of Pope Valley Road. Evacuation warnings were also issued for threats to life and/or property.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also issued an air quality advisory in Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties due to smoke from the Pickett Fire. The advisory was in place through Monday. The smoke could be dangerous to older adults, children and pregnant people, as well as those with heart problems.