Pickett Fire updates: Wildfire is 100% contained, CAL FIRE says

As wine country turns into wildfire country, some winery owners in Calistoga are breathing a sigh of relief, watching the Pickett Fire burn away from their town.

As wine country turns into wildfire country, some winery owners in Calistoga are breathing a sigh of relief, watching the Pickett Fire burn away from their town.

Kenefick Ranch Vineyard and Winery is on Pickett Road, the same road where the fire first broke out. Chris Kenefick watched as the fire grew.

"You don't freak out right away. You realize we've been here before," said Kenefick. "We rely on CAL FIRE to respond really quickly."

The air they're breathing, however, is top of mind as grape harvest season is beginning.

"Smoke issues on the grapes are the biggest concerns to look out for," said Kenefick.

On Friday night, fire officials said the fire was burning into Aetna Springs. Roads at Aetna Springs Road and Pope Valley Road were blocked off and evacuation orders and warnings were issued to people in the surrounding communities.

"That doesn't mean the fire is getting out of control. It just means our work continues," said Deputy Marshal Erick Hernandez with Napa County.

Hernandez said this wildfire season, you'll see more of the C-130s, better known as a VLAT (or very large air tanker). These aircrafts can drop about 4,000 gallons of fire retardant at a time.

"When you look at air assets, those air assets are not only suppressing but also slowing the progression," said Hernandez. "So that the real firefighting is on the ground."

The Pickett Fire is still forcing evacuations in parts of eastern Napa County. Here's how residents are preparing.

The Pickett Fire is still forcing evacuations in parts of eastern Napa County. It's grown to 3,235 acres with 7% containment.

"Looks like they're doing pretty good containment here," said Robert Soper.

Anxious moments for fire evacuee Robert Soper. He watched from his pickup on Pope Valley Road as CAL FIRE planes made rapid fire air drops of pink retardant on the Pickett Fire that is burning near Robert's Napa County ranch on Ink Grade Road. Choppers were doing lots of water drops too.

"They ran a bunch of dozers up there last night and cut fire breaks. Helicopters are getting ahold of it," Soper said.

But Thursday was a different story, when the fast-moving fire raced up a ridge giving ranch and vineyard owners a real scare.

"It was a little eerie last round of fires here on the Grade. It has lots of fuel, definitely scary when there's a fire down here," Soper said.

CAL FIRE hand crews are cutting fire lines to slow the rate of spread. Temperatures were a bit cooler Friday but still hot and dry.

"Obviously, with higher temps picking up, we're going to see increased fire activity. We're going to see a lot of smoke. That doesn't mean we're losing the fire. Suppressing with air and ground resources," said Erick Hernandez from CAL FIRE.

"I got groceries. Stuff may be melted," said Janet Smith.

Smith lives outside the evacuation zone but is getting ready to leave if the fire gets close.

"I got gas filled up in case I have to evacuate. You've got to be ready," Smith said.

"My grandmother is 95, I'm going to see if she wants to come back with me to Napa. She went through the 2017 fire. I get her," said Howard Glover from Napa.

The fire burning near the same footprint as the devastating Glass Fire in 2020, triggering for residents who lived through it.

"The '17 and '20 fires, devastating and too close to home," Glover said.

More than 400 firefighters are on the front lines. CAL FIRE is hoping for cooler temps and increased humidity Friday night to aid in the firefight.

New evacuation warnings and ordered have been issued Friday evening.

Evacuation orders are in effect for zones NPA-E114, NPA-E115, NPA-E120, NPA-E121-B, NPA-E121-C, NPA-E122-B, POP-E001-B

Evacuation warnings are in effect for ANG-E001, NPA-E107, NPA-E121-A, NPA-E122-A, POP-E001-A, POP-E002-B

CAL FIRE says the Pickett Fire is now 7% contained and has burned more than 3,200 acres.

On Thursday night, officials say the fire grew by 1,102 acres which was attributed to the "fire backing to strategic fuel breaks and historical control lines."

Thankfully, CAL FIRE says there has been no threat to structures on Friday. They say crews are making an aggressive and effective attack on the fire and progress is being made on containment.