December 19, 2025
Napa, CA — After more than a century of fire suppression and repeated major wildfires, a remote ridgeline along the Napa–Sonoma border is being reshaped to give firefighters something they rarely get: a safer place to stop a fire.
The Hogback Ridge Fuel Break Project, led by the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise), is a land resilience effort focused on restoring forest structure and reducing wildfire intensity along Hogback Ridge — a critical corridor above Napa Valley communities with a long history of fire activity. Designed with firefighter safety and ecological integrity in mind, the project uses fuel breaks as one tool within a broader stewardship strategy, working with existing roads, vineyards, rock outcroppings, and natural barriers to guide the landscape toward healthier, fire-adapted conditions while minimizing vegetation removal.
In December 2022, Napa Firewise was awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Forest Service, securing matching funds that bring the total project investment to nearly $3 million. The effort builds on years of prior mitigation work and reflects close collaboration among the Mt. Veeder Fire Safe Council, Napa Valley Vintners, the County of Napa, CAL FIRE, and conservation partners. Former U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein played a key role in helping secure the federal funding, underscoring the importance of federal support for wildfire resilience.
A Landscape Shaped by Fire — and Fire Absence
The Mt. Veeder area west of Mt. Veeder Road, near Mayacamas Vineyards, has experienced repeated large fires, including the 1964 Nuns Canyon Fire, the 1996 PG&E Fire, and the 2017 Nuns Fire. Since 2017, Hogback Ridge has seen a rapid buildup of fuels, including accumulated dead debris and dense post-fire regeneration of knobcone pine, increasing ladder fuels and fuel continuity across the corridor.
Compounding the risk, more than 150 years of fire suppression and historic removal of large conifers for early settlement left the ridgeline choked with brush and encroaching Douglas fir. The result is a landscape primed for high-intensity fire behavior.
“This project is about correcting course,” said Mike Wilson, Napa Firewise Director of Land Resilience. “We’re using fire science, forest ecology, and hard-earned operational experience to restore a landscape that can better coexist with fire.”
Crews are applying a combination of hand work, mechanical treatments, pile burning, and targeted invasive species removal, including French broom. Restoration efforts emphasize native vegetation, soil health, and wildlife habitat — ensuring the land remains both fire-adapted and ecologically resilient.
Designed for Firefighters Before the Fire Starts
Fuel breaks and fire roads are critical tools during wildfire response, giving firefighters access, anchor points, and safer places to work. Ridgelines like Hogback Ridge often serve as natural containment lines, where reduced fuel loads and topography can slow or stop an advancing fire.
Pre-fire mitigation does not eliminate the need for dozer operations during an active incident, but it can significantly reduce the most dangerous work and improve firefighter safety. Opening the canopy also improves the effectiveness of aerial retardant drops, a key tactic in modern wildfire suppression.
“Projects like Hogback Ridge give firefighters a fighting chance,” said JC Greenberg of CAL FIRE. Recent incidents, including the August 2025 Pickett Fire, demonstrated how proactive fuel reduction can directly improve suppression outcomes and operational safety.
Building a Regional Line of Defense
Hogback Ridge is part of a larger, long-term land resilience strategy focused on connecting individual treatments into a coordinated system of defense. This approach reflects Napa Firewise’s large-scale land resilience framework, built on decades of mitigation experience across Napa County.
The organization aims to eventually link this project to Diamond Mountain, integrating multiple fuel reduction efforts into a defensible corridor spanning roughly 25 miles along the Napa–Sonoma border.
Countywide, through grant and donor support, Napa Firewise has treated more than 5,000 acres across 250+ funded projects, creating a growing network of fuel breaks and fire-adapted forests that protect homes, open space, and critical infrastructure. With crews working across five divisions simultaneously, the Hogback Ridge project will continue through February 2026.
“This is about stewardship at scale,” said Joseph Nordlinger, CEO of Napa Firewise. “The work doesn’t end when the equipment leaves. It’s about building landscapes that are safer, healthier, and more resilient for decades to come.”
This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service under Grant/Agreement 23-DG-11052012-184. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA.
About Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise) is a countywide nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening wildfire resilience across Napa County through land stewardship, strategic fuel management, and community preparedness. Napa Firewise works with residents, landowners, fire agencies, and partners to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and ecosystem health, and support fire-adapted communities. Learn more at https://napafirewise.org.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Smithers
Marketing & Communications Manager, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
stephanie@napafirewise.org | 909-786-9208