Thousands of residents across Northern California wine country and central Oregon faced evacuation orders Sunday as two major wildfires continued spreading through dry terrain amid triple-digit temperatures.
The Pickett Fire in Napa County has charred approximately 10 square miles and remains only 11 percent contained, while Oregon’s Flat Fire has burned nearly 34 square miles across Deschutes and Jefferson counties.
More than 1,230 firefighters supported by 10 helicopters are battling the California blaze, which began Thursday in a remote area following a week of extreme heat.
Why It Matters
These wildfires represent the latest challenge in what experts predict could be another devastating fire season across the Western United States.
The blazes threaten critical wine country infrastructure in Northern California and residential communities in Oregon’s high desert region.
Myriad air quality alerts have been issued across the U.S. as smoke from Canadian wildfires descends across the states. Wildfires currently burning in Oregon, and the flames are causing smoke to impact parts of the state through Monday night, according to an air quality alert from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
What To Know
In California, the Pickett Fire has prompted evacuation orders for 190 people near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley, approximately 80 miles north of San Francisco, with an additional 360 residents under evacuation warnings. The fire threatens 500 structures in the same area where the much larger Glass Fire burned 105 square miles and destroyed over 1,500 structures in 2020.
Oregon’s situation is more expansive, with about 4,000 homes under various evacuation levels, including 1,000 with immediate departure orders. The Flat Fire is burning through dried grasses and juniper trees in challenging canyon terrain that complicates containment efforts.
Weather conditions continue hampering firefighting operations, with low humidity levels and increasing afternoon winds expected. Sunday temperatures reached 94 degrees Fahrenheit in the California fire zone, with triple-digit heat reported in multiple areas. The broader Western heat wave has affected Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona throughout the weekend.
Central California’s Gifford Fire, the state’s largest blaze this year, reached 95 percent containment after burning nearly 206 square miles across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties since August 1.
What People Are Saying
Cal Fire Spokesperson Jason Clay told the Associated Press: “That’s been a driving factor in the afternoons since we’ve seen the fire activity pick up for the last three days. Support from all up and down California has been critical to our efforts.”
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Spokesman Jason Carr told the AP: “If we get thunderstorms that roll through, it can cause the fire to jump [containment] lines. The downdrafts can push fire in multiple directions.”
Cal Fire said in a Sunday update: “With the fire burning near communities, structure protection remains a high priority. Firefighters will be actively engaged in protecting homes and other structures… The fire is burning in rugged terrain, and the weather forecast for the next few days includes continued hot and dry conditions, which will make sustained efforts crucial for containment.”
Air quality advisory in place for Oregon: “Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition.”
Central Oregon Fire Info website for the Flat fire: “Hot and dry conditions persist across Central Oregon, sustaining active fire behavior on the Flat Fire. Smoke is expected to linger in the area, with impacts varying throughout the day depending on wind direction. These conditions will continue to challenge firefighting efforts and may affect visibility and air quality for nearby residents.”
What Happens Next?
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory due to smoke from the Pickett fire, warning that it may cause unhealthy air in parts of Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties through August 25. Vulnerable populations should limit times outdoors.
People under evacuations orders should leave the area.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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