If you’re waking up in the Napa Valley and smelling smoke, your heart probably just skipped a beat. It’s a reflex here. You see a haze over the Palisades or hear a heavy-lift helicopter thrumming over Washington Street, and suddenly it’s 2017 or 2020 all over again. Honestly, the trauma is real. But let’s talk about the fire in Calistoga today and what is actually happening on the ground right now, because the reality is often a lot different than the panic on social media.
As of today, January 16, 2026, the situation around Calistoga is stable. We aren't looking at a repeat of the Pickett Fire—that monster that chewed through 6,820 acres back in August. That fire, which was sparked by debris burning near Pickett Road, was officially 100% contained months ago. If you see crews out there today, they aren't "battling" a blaze. They are likely doing the slow, unglamorous work of forest management.
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The Smoke You’re Seeing Right Now
So, why the hazy skyline? Usually, during these cooler January windows, CAL FIRE and the Napa County Fire Department take advantage of the "whiplash weather." That's when we get those crisp, moist days between the big Pacific storms.
It’s prescribed burn season.
Basically, fire crews are intentionally lighting small, controlled fires to clear out the "ladder fuels"—the dry brush and dead wood that make summer wildfires so much worse. You might see smoke rising from the hills near Robert Louis Stevenson State Park or over toward Pope Valley. It looks scary, but it’s actually the best insurance policy we have.
Wait, check the wind. North/Northeast winds can occasionally drift smoke into the downtown Calistoga area from pile burns further up toward Lake County. If the air feels thick, it’s usually because the cold morning air is "trapping" that smoke near the valley floor. It’s an inversion layer. It smells like a campfire, not a catastrophe.
Is there an active threat?
No. Right now, there are no active evacuation orders or warnings for the 94515 zip code.
That said, "Normal" fire potential in Northern California doesn't mean "Zero." Even in January, if we get a dry spell and a stray spark hits a patch of unburned grass, things can move. But today’s humidity levels are high, and the ground is still holding onto moisture from the recent rains. The Pickett Fire footprint—which actually re-burned much of the old Glass Fire scar—has left a lot of the immediate hillsides around Calistoga with significantly less fuel to burn than in previous years.
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What we learned from the Pickett Fire
We should probably talk about why everyone is so jumpy. The Pickett Fire last August was a wake-up call. It was the largest fire in the Bay Area at that point in the year. It cost the wine industry an estimated $65 million in damages and smoke taint.
When that fire broke out, it moved fast. It jumped ridgelines between Browns Hill and High Point within hours. But here is the nuance: the firefighting response in 2025/2026 has become incredibly aggressive. Within 48 hours of the Pickett Fire starting, CAL FIRE had over 2,000 personnel on it. They aren't messing around anymore.
If a real fire in Calistoga today were to spark, you wouldn't just see smoke. You’d see the Genasys Protect (formerly Zonehaven) map light up with red and yellow zones. You’d get a wireless emergency alert (WEA) on your phone that makes that horrible screeching sound. If you haven't heard that sound today, you're likely okay.
How to stay actually informed
Don't rely on Nextdoor. Seriously. People on there tend to panic if someone leaves their toaster on too long.
If you want the real-time data, here is where the pros look:
- Watch Duty App: This is the gold standard. It’s run by real people who listen to the scanners. If a fire starts, they post it before the news does.
- AlertCalifornia Cameras: You can literally look at the "Mount St. Helena" or "Angwin" cameras yourself. If there’s a plume, you’ll see it.
- Napa County OES: They handle the official "Go" or "Stay" orders.
The "New Normal" in the Valley
Living here means accepting that fire is part of the ecology. We're in a cycle now where "fire season" isn't just August to October. It's whenever the wind blows and the grass is dry.
But Calistoga is better prepared than it was five years ago. The city has done massive amounts of work on "defensible space" around the northern outskirts. Wineries like Kenefick Ranch and others along the Silverado Trail have invested heavily in their own onsite water systems and fire-resistant landscaping.
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Actionable steps for today
Since there is no immediate danger, use this "quiet" time to do the boring stuff that actually saves lives.
- Check your zone: Go to the Genasys Protect website and type in your address. Memorize your zone number (like NPA-E114). If the police shout that number over a loudspeaker at 2:00 AM, you need to know it’s you.
- Clear your gutters: Even in winter, dry leaves in your gutters are a primary cause of home ignition from embers.
- Sign up for Nixle: Text your zip code (94515) to 888777. This gives you direct alerts from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
- Monitor the Air Quality: If you have asthma or are sensitive to smoke from the prescribed burns, keep an eye on the PurpleAir sensors around town. January smoke can settle deep in the valley.
The bottom line? There is no major wildfire threatening Calistoga at this moment. The hills are greening up, the vineyards are dormant, and the "smoke" you might see is likely the sound of the forest being made safer for the summer ahead. Stay alert, but don't let the "what ifs" ruin your cup of coffee at Calistoga Roastery today.
Keep your "Go Bag" by the door just in case—that’s just Napa Valley life now—but for today, the valley is breathing easy.