Cal Fire is investigating whether the 6,800-acre Pickett Fire was caused by an outdoor fireplace at Hundred Acre Wines in Calistoga during preparations for an upcoming wedding. Weddings have been banned at wineries in Napa since 1990.
As the Chronicle reports, Sam Singer, a spokesperson for Hundred Acre Wines, confirmed in a statement Friday that the smoldering ashes produced by a fire in the venue’s new outdoor fireplace could have sparked the Pickett Fire. However, Singer claimed that the event that was scheduled to take place at Hundred Acre, which ultimately moved to a venue in St. Helena after the wildfire began, was merely a “family gathering.”
Alas, per the Chronicle, social media posts of the said “family gathering” on the property of the former Kelham Vineyards featured the bride, Emilyn Smith — daughter of Hundred Acre’s first employee, Burges Smith — walking down the aisle. Comments from friends congratulate the newlyweds on the “beautiful wedding.” The Chronicle writes that around 85 guests attended the wedding, which was hosted pro bono by former Kelham co-owner, Hamilton Nicholsen…