TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, Chief Executive Office
REPORT BY: Shana A. Bagley, Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution continuing the Proclamation of Local Health Emergency Due to the 2025 Pickett Fire
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution continuing the proclamation of local health emergency due to the 2025 Pickett Fire. (Fiscal Impact: Unknown; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
On August 24, 2025, the Napa County Executive Officer proclaimed the existence of a local emergency due to fires at various locations in Napa County (2025 Pickett Fire). This action was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on August 26, 2025. Conditions of the 2025 Pickett Fire have also created debris which may be or become hazardous waste and threaten public health. CalOES requires that Napa County also declare a local health emergency to trigger state assistance with cleaning hazardous materials on private property and the local watershed. This assistance to the local watershed within Napa County is needed to implement preventative measures.
California Health and Safety Code section 101080 confers upon the local health officer, emergency powers necessary to protect public health and safety. By proclamation and declaration on August 25, 2025, Dr. Christine Wu, Napa Couty Public Health Officer, proclaimed the existence of a local health emergency due to the imminent threat to safe water supplies and hazardous waste and materials created by the 2025 Pickett Fire. This action was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on August 26, 2025. If conditions warrant, the Board of Supervisors must continue to proclaim and decare these conditions until the emergency does not exist.
The potential for the rainy season offers little time to mitigate further environmental contamination, including contamination of the watershed, and, therefore, time is essential to removing hazardous waste and materials from various property sites.
It is requested that the Board adopt the attached resolution continuing the local health emergency declared as a result of the 2025 Pickett Fire.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Adopting this resolution could potentially lead to State or Federal reimbursement to Napa County. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Future fiscal impacts are currently unknown |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Failure to approve the resolution might prevent Napa County from obtaining State and Federal funds to provide public and individual assistance. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.