CALIFORNIA – A wildfire erupted near the California tourist town of Calistoga on Aug 2 1, prompting the evacuation of nearby wineries and some rural residences. 

The Pickett Fire has rapidly exploded to 4.2 sq km among dry vegetation in the hills of Napa Valley wine country, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. A state camera feed showed a large plume of smoke emerging from the side of a mountain overlooking Calistoga. 

California is entering peak wildfire season, after months of high heat with little rain dried out vegetation. The state has nine active fires burning, including the massive Gifford Fire that has charred more than 526 sq km in mostly remote terrain in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. 

Blistering temperatures are heightening wildfire risks. Heat warnings are in effect across much of California, with the mercury expected to climb to between 32 and 38 deg C into the weekend, according to the US Weather Prediction Center.

Low humidity will dry out fuels and make them more flammable, while a chance of thunderstorms may bring lightning strikes that can start new fires, creating dangerous fire weather conditions.

Wildfires in the US West have been growing more intense as rising global temperatures trigger whiplashes between parching droughts and drenching rains that drive vegetation growth and raise the risk of mudslides on fire-scarred terrain.

Southern California is still reeling from deadly fires in January, which destroyed thousands of homes in and around Los Angeles. BLOOMBERG

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