68 h. ago Vineyards assess damage as wildfire rips through California wine country: ‘A devastating situation’

The growing threat of fires has shaken the Napa Valley wine industry, as fears of smoke-spoiled grapes and soaring insurance rates put vintners on edgeElton Slone and his colleagues at the Robert Craig Winery in Napa Valley had gathered for their annual pre-harvest company party last week – complete with copper pot carnitas and grape tacos – when one of his co-workers noticed an alert on her phone. The Pickett fire, a blaze that had started about 10 miles away near the town of Calistoga, was moving toward their vineyards on Howell Mountain.Knowing that the Glass fire – a 2020 blaze that damaged numerous wineries and spoiled a year’s harvest – had burned along the same path, Slone hoped no fuel remained for this new fire. “But that was not the case,” he said. Within the week, the winery’s Candlestick Vineyard would become “a sacrificial lamb for the town of Angwin” when firefighters lit a controlled burn on their property to control the larger fire. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago 'I love travelling Italy but Brits make big mistake when it comes to gelato'

Travelling Italy is special. As well as being totally beautiful, the country boasts incredible food, delicious wine and offers beauty at every corner; however, when it comes to eating gelato, British tourists often go wrong

Politics

6 d. ago California and Oregon fire crews battle several blazes as forecasters warn more may spark

Firefighters try to corral Garnet fire, with parts of California under red flag warning, as Oregon blaze destroys homesNumerous wildfires across the US west coast are challenging emergency crews from California wine country to central Oregon, as weather forecasters warned that the risks of more blazes sparking is not over yet.In central California, firefighters are working to corral a fast-growing wildfire that is churning through the Sierra national forest as forecasters warned on Tuesday that lightning strikes from thunderstorms could ignite new fires. Since breaking out on Sunday afternoon, the Garnet fire has scorched 14 sq miles (36 sq km) of grass, chaparral and timber in a remote area known for camping and hiking about 60 miles (97km) east of Fresno. The fire is currently at 0% containment, and officials said that “strong, erratic winds” would likely test firefighters ability to make progress. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Oregon wildfire begins stabilizing as California blaze threatens vineyards

Rain helped cool Flat fire that destroyed homes in Oregon, while the Pickett fire has charred 10 sq miles of Napa countyA wildfire that destroyed four homes in central Oregon has started to stabilize, while a blaze in northern California wine country has so far spared some of the state’s most famous vineyards.Moisture helped the 1,200 firefighters battling Oregon’s Flat fire, but more work needed to be done, authorities said. Dry, hot weather had fueled a rapid expansion of the blaze across rugged terrain in Deschutes and Jefferson counties since the fire began late on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Wildfires in California and Oregon destroy homes and prompt thousands of evacuations

Pickett fire chars Napa wine country while predicted thunderstorms add to danger of Oregon’s Flat fireWildfires raging in northern California wine country and central Oregon have destroyed multiple homes and threatened thousands more as hot, dry weather created challenges for firefighters battles the blazes.Ten structures – including four homes – have been destroyed in Oregon’s Deschutes County as of Monday, where a wildfire dubbed the Flat fire continues to burn. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Wildfire in Oregon destroys 4 homes, threatens thousands more

Four homes and six other structures have been destroyed by a wildfire sweeping through central Oregon as thousands of homes in the state and in Northern California wine country remained under evacuation orders

Events

7 d. ago Thousands under evacuation orders in California and Oregon as wildfires burn

Pickett fire chars Napa wine country while predicted thunderstorms add to danger of Oregon’s Flat fireThousands of homes in northern California wine country and central Oregon were under evacuation orders as firefighting crews battled wildfires in dry, hot weather.The Pickett fire, which had charred more than 6,800 acres of Napa county, was just 13% contained by Monday morning, according to the California department of forestry & fire protection, or Cal Fire. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Photos of crews battling the wildfires in Northern California wine country

Thousands of homes are under evacuation orders and warnings because of wildfires in Northern California wine country. Firefighters backed by helicopters were working Sunday to try to contain the blazes amid dry, hot weather. Cal Fire says the Pickett Fire in Napa County north of San Francisco has grown to more than 10 square miles (25 square kilometers) and was 11% contained.

Events

8 d. ago Wildfires in California and Oregon grow, prompting evacuations and warnings

Firefighters battle blazes amid dry, hot weather as fires in Napa county and Deschutes and Jefferson counties spreadWildfires in California wine country and central Oregon grew overnight, prompting hundreds of evacuations as firefighters worked on Sunday to try to contain the blazes amid dry, hot weather.The Pickett Fire in Napa county had grown to more than 10 sq miles (26 sq km) and was 11% contained as of early Sunday, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Wildfires expand in Oregon and California, threatening homes and prompting evacuations

Wildfires in California wine country and central Oregon are expanding, prompting hundreds of evacuations

Events

1 week ago Wildfire explodes in California wine country as heatwave scorches US west

Multiple fires have ignited this week with searing heat expected to last days and extend to Pacific north-westMultiple wildfires have ignited across California as the state continues to scorch in a multi-day heatwave that is expected to last through the weekend.The largest this week, named the Pickett fire, exploded in size on Thursday as it burned in a remote area of Napa county, and covered more than 2,100 acres (850 hectares) by Friday morning. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued Thursday for hundreds of residents around Calistoga, a small city in the region known for its wine, as firefighters faced challenging conditions, working through dangerously high temperatures and rugged terrain. The fire’s perimeter is 0% contained. Continue reading...

Events