The Pickett fire in Napa County in California grew on Thursday to 1,200 acres, prompting evacuation orders in the city of Calistoga, the local fire department said.
The fire started on Thursday afternoon and was spreading southeast, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the state fire agency known as Cal Fire.
Evacuation orders issued on Thursday covered three zones of Calistoga with 72 residents, based on a New York Times analysis of the evacuation zones and LandScan population data. Another 474 people were under evacuation warnings in five other zones.
No injuries have been reported and no structures have been damaged, said Bob Tedeschini, the Cal Fire battalion chief in charge of the Pickett fire, in a video posted on social media on Thursday night.
California is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons this year, fueled by some of the hottest summer temperatures on record and compounded by cuts to federal agencies that assist with firefighting, prevention and recovery, including the National Weather Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Evacuated residents could find shelter at the Calistoga Community Center and Crosswalk Community Church, according to city officials.
Calistoga has a population of about 5,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A dozen vineyards in its vicinity are part of the renowned Napa Valley wine industry, and some would be in the path of the fire if it continues spreading southeast.
Winds were coming from the south as of Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service,blowing the fire away from the center of Calistoga.
Francesca Regalado is a Times reporter covering breaking news.
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