Napa County supervisors ratify local emergency and health emergency for Pickett Fire

Napa County supervisors unanimously ratified a proclamation of local emergency and a separate local health emergency Monday, Aug. 26, 2025, in response to the Pickett Fire, which began Aug. 21 and has burned in unincorporated areas near Calistoga, Aetna Springs, Angwin and parts of Pope Valley.

The declarations, adopted during a special meeting called to address the incident, clear administrative and legal paths for resource mobilization, hazardous-debris removal and watershed protection as recovery and the rainy season approach.

County staff told the board the county executive officer proclaimed a local emergency on Aug. 24 after consulting fire leadership, the sheriff, the Office of Emergency Services and county counsel. The staff report said the proclamation is being ratified to comply with state law and to preserve county authority to request state or federal assistance.

Fire operations leaders gave the board a chronology of the fire. The incident began Aug. 21 on Pickett Road. Early estimates placed the fire at about 25 to 30 acres; by about 8 p.m. the first night the fire had grown to roughly 1,000 acres. Officials later reported the fire had expanded to approximately 7,000 acres and was 17% contained at the time of the meeting. The fire moved quickly through steep, difficult-to-access drainages; unified command was established among Napa County Fire, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office and CAL FIRE as incident management teams escalated response levels.

“Without the help of our Napa County Fire Department volunteers and surging resources in to backfill behind our CAL FIRE stations and to support us at the incident itself with water tenders and resources, I don't think we would be as successful as we are today,” the Fire Chief said, summarizing the role of volunteer and mutual-aid crews.

Sheriff Ortiz thanked partner agencies and local facilities for support in staging and logistics, noting the city of Calistoga initially provided space at its fairgrounds and that operations later moved to the Napa Valley Expo as the incoming Type 1 incident management team expanded staffing and apparatus.

Brianna Jones of the Office of Emergency Services briefed the board on the local health emergency, saying it is intended to support recovery tasks including hazardous-materials debris removal and watershed mitigation work to protect Angwin and Pope Valley from post-fire hazards as the region moves into the rainy season. County counsel Shanna Bagley told the board a correction to the draft resolution was required to reflect a state code update: the prior 14-day term reference should read 30 days.

A member of the public, identified as Miss Novy representing winery members, thanked county officials and partner agencies for their response.

Votes at the meeting: The board adopted a resolution ratifying the county executive officer’s proclamation of local emergency (motion by Supervisor Alessio; second by Supervisor Ramos) and then adopted a resolution ratifying and continuing a proclamation of local health emergency (motion by Supervisor Gallagher; second by Supervisor Ramos). Both measures carried unanimously.

The board adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at 9 a.m.