Pickett Fire May Have Ignited During Set-Up of Unauthorized Wedding at Napa Winery

"Cal Fire is investigating whether the 6,800-acre Pickett Fire was ignited by ash from an outdoor fireplace at Hundred Acre Wines in Calistoga in preparation for an upcoming wedding on the property. Weddings have been banned at wineries in Napa since 1990. As the Chronicle reports, Sam Singer, a spokesperson for Hundred Acre Wines, confirmed in a statement Friday that the smoldering ashes produced by a fire in the venue's new outdoor fireplace could have sparked the Pickett Fire."

"However, Singer claimed that the event that was scheduled to take place at Hundred Acre, which ultimately moved to a venue in St. Helena after the wildfire began, was merely a family gathering. Alas, per the Chronicle, social media posts of the said family gathering on the property of the former Kelham Vineyards featured the bride, Emilyn Smith, daughter of Hundred Acre's first employee, Burges Smith, walking down the aisle with friends congratulating the newlyweds on the beautiful wedding."

"The Napa County District Attorney's Office alleged he was producing wine without a permit in 2006, filing a criminal charge against him, which was dropped. In recent years, Woodbridge has been embroiled in various legal battles with the county, including a code violation case in 2022. I'm not afraid to speak up, Woodbridge told the Chronicle at the time. We shouldn't have to be told by the county what we do with our private land."

Cal Fire is probing whether smoldering ashes from a new outdoor fireplace at Hundred Acre Wines sparked the 6,800-acre Pickett Fire. Hundred Acre's spokesperson acknowledged that ashes from the venue's fireplace could have started the blaze and said a scheduled event moved to St. Helena after the wildfire began. Social media and guest counts indicate about 85 people attended what appeared to be a wedding on former Kelham Vineyards property. Napa County's 1990 Winery Definition Ordinance bars non-wine social events at wineries, though many properties have ignored the restriction. Woodbridge has faced prior permitting and code disputes with the county. Cal Fire is also investigating several other possible causes.

Read at sfist.com