Butts fire in Napa County at 3,200 acres; no threat to vineyards yet

A 3,200-acre wildfire in Napa County is growing but poses no immediate threat to its renowned vineyards, officials said Wednesday.

The Butts fire had died down between 3 a.m. and noon Wednesday, but as temperatures rose it began to grow in size, “mainly due to the fact of how dry it is,” said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Officials say the fire, which broke out shortly after noon Tuesday, is threatening 380 structures and is 30% contained. Five structures have been damaged or destroyed, one of which was possibly a residence. No injuries have been reported.

Although there are several small vineyards in the surrounding area, none are immediately threatened, Berlant said.

The fire sped across dry, rugged terrain near Butts Canyon Road in the Pope Valley area and grew quickly from an estimated 800 acres Tuesday amid 90-degree weather.

Evacuations remained in effect along Butts Canyon Road and in the Berryessa Estates area as about 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze, CalFire said.

The blaze broke out as the National Weather Service predicted above-normal temperatures for much of Northern California for the remainder of the week. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Berlant advised Californians to be careful while celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend.

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