Update: On Tuesday morning evacuation orders in Napa County have been rescinded. According to the latest Cal Fire incident update, “All areas evacuations and road closures on the Snell Fire have been lifted. Returning residents are reminded to stay alert and vigilant as fire conditions can always change.”
Estimated fire size remained unchanged Monday evening, with containment now calculated at 45 percent.
California’s fire season has come roaring back after a brief period of calm with a new Napa County blaze that promoted evacuations over the weekend.
The Snell Fire, located just southwest of Middletown, started Saturday afternoon, according to reports from Cal Fire, and by Saturday night it grew to an area of 1,700 acres that threatened some 180 structures.
By Monday morning the Snell Fire measured nearly 2,500 acres in estimated size—the Cal Fire incident report credits relatively cool temperatures over the weekend with keeping the growth minimal compared to recent summer fires that swelled to overwhelming proportions in mere hours.
Presently, the state lists mandatory evacuation orders for the following areas:
- “West side of Berryessa Knoxville Road, from Pope Creek Bridge to Lake-Napa County line.
- Snell Valley Road and all roads to Snell Valley and Berryessa Estates.
The designated evacuation center is the Pope Valley Farm Center at 5800 Pope Valley Road in Pope Valley.
Note: Evacuation orders are mandatory. Ignoring them is a crime in the state of California, even if you don’t believe that the fire poses an immediate threat to your home.
The Napa Valley Register reported Sunday that a second evacuation center opened in Calistoga, but ended up taking in no evacuees and might be closed. On Monday morning, the Napa County Sheriff’s department Facebook page still lists the Calistoga Fairgrounds as an evacuation center.
Fire crews estimate that the Snell Fire is roughly 30 percent contained.
- Snell Fire [Cal Fire]
- Snell Fire Saturday Report
- Snell Fire Monday Report
- Evac Center In Calistoga [Napa Valley Register]
- Napa Sheriff Department [Facebook]