United States - August 26, 2025 A local health emergency has been declared in Napa County as the Pickett Fire continues to burn and threaten public safety, County Public Health Officer Christine Wu announced Monday. Wu signed the proclamation in response to what the county described as “imminent environmental threats to safe water supplies and hazardous waste and materials” created by the wildfire. The Pickett Fire began Thursday in a rural part of Calistoga and by the weekend had expanded to more than 6,800 acres. Evacuation warnings and orders have been issued for some residents in the fire’s path. Officials warned that debris from the fast-moving fire can become hazardous waste that threatens watershed areas, creating risks to public health. “In light of these impacts, the proclamation authorizes immediate action to be taken to address the removal of any hazardous waste and materials within the fire-affected area that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive, as well as allow for potential preventive measures to be undertaken,” the county said in a statement Monday. The declaration is also intended to speed recovery work even as the fire continues to spread. “This declaration will allow for faster restoration to any infrastructure impacted by the fire,” the county added. Wu emphasized that the proclamation is a necessary step to help Napa County gain access to state and federal support for firefighting operations, recovery, and reimbursement of extraordinary emergency costs.