May 20, 2026
Napa Firewise, working with Napa County, CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and private landowners, has completed the 11.5-mile Hogback Ridge fuel break along the Mayacamas crest above Mount Veeder. The $1.5 million project treats roughly 250 acres across dozens of parcels, creating a ridgetop line where firefighters can stage and hold when wind-driven fires push toward an estimated 8,000 structures within 3 miles. Napa Valley Vintners separately funded a dedicated Firewise dozer that helped open initial access to the ridge and supports fuel-break work countywide. Backers point to the 2025 Pickett Fire as evidence that pre-built containment lines, improved access and mapped water sources can limit a blaze’s footprint before it becomes catastrophic, even as long-term maintenance and funding remain unresolved.
Read the full story by Tim Carl at Napa Valley Features.