According to AP, the forest fire in central Oregon destroyed ten structures, including four residential homes, and thousands of residents are still under evacuation orders on Monday. At the same time, fire activity in the Napa wine region of Northern California has not yet affected most of the state’s well-known vineyards.
The Flat Fire has burned about 34 square miles (approximately 88 km²) across Deschutes and Jefferson counties and is currently roughly 5% contained. Firefighters are working under challenging drought conditions and extreme heat.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of homes and personal property and extend our condolences to those affected.”
– Deschutes County Sheriff Tai Rupert
The blaze continued to threaten nearly 4,000 homes, but firefighters are employing cooling tactics – with temperatures in places dipping to about 31 °C – and are considering possible brief rain showers.
According to Gerta Zutendeika, a fire service spokesperson, heat advisories remain in effect through midweek, and meteorologists warn that thunderstorms could create unstable winds that would complicate firefighting.
Pickett Fire in Napa and Impact on the Wine Region
The Pickett Fire in Napa County covers about 10 square miles (26 km²) of a remote region and as of Monday is contained to about 13%.
The fire bypassed the home and neighboring vineyards of Jason Woodbridge of Hundred Acre Wines, but he noted that the situation was very close – on Thursday the fire appeared and raced along adjacent slopes.
“Water evaporated as quickly as we sprayed it.”
– Jason Woodbridge
Firefighters arrived with bulldozers and air support to protect property. Helicopters with water-scooping capability continued to patrol the region, while the blaze remained outside the wine-growing zones near San Francisco.
According to Woodbridge, his crop was not affected thanks to the “pure luck” of the wind direction from the west. He also noted that prior incidents of toxic smoke in 2020 during the Glass Fire prompted vintners to reassess plans for that harvest.
According to Napa Valley Vintners, there has currently been no damage to vineyards from the Pickett Fire, but firefighting resources have been directed to protecting the region, especially with stronger winds expected later in the evening.
At the same time, the threat remains in the region: in the southwestern Montana, a man died fighting fires, and the area of forest and forest floor litter at the Bivens Creek site reached about 3.5 square miles (9 km²) as of August 13. Rising temperatures and drought in Western U.S. states underscore the need for constant monitoring and readiness for new blazes.
Recent days have brought further heat: in Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, temperatures remain high, creating additional health risks for residents and hindering the work of emergency responders. Experts also note that climate change, driven by burning fossil fuels, fuels the heat and drought, creating more challenging conditions for wildfires.
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