Updated 9 a.m. Sept. 2: The UC Davis Fire Department personnel aboard Brush Truck 34 returned to campus Monday (Sept. 1) because of a mechanical issue with the truck, Fire Chief Nate Hartinger said. Four staff members had been deployed aboard the truck to the Pickett Fire in Napa County.

The captain serving as a strike team leader trainee remains deployed to the fire response.

Cal Fire said this morning that the blaze was 90% contained and still covered roughly the same area — 6,800 acres.

Original article, Aug. 26: A team from the UC Davis Fire Department is helping with the efforts to fight the Pickett Fire in Napa County.

Four staffers — a captain, an engineer and two firefighters — left campus Sunday morning (Aug. 24) in Brush Truck 34, along with another captain serving as strike team leader trainee on a team comprising personnel from Davis, Winters, Yocha Dehe and Amador County fire departments. 

The Pickett Fire has grown to 6,800 acres and is 17% contained, Cal Fire said this morning. The fire is located near the city of Calistoga.

As of today, the UC Davis crew is assigned to “mop up” areas that had previously burned, ensuring they can’t rekindle.