Napa strikes US$64.6 million fire protection deal
Napa County has agreed a three-year “disaster readiness” deal with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The issue of wildfires has become one of the most pressing challenges for Napa Valley’s wine industry. For example, earlier this year, LVMH-owned Newton Vineyard announced that it would be permanently shutting operations after it became clear that it could not recover from the devastation of the Glass Fire in September 2020.
In 2023, Napa Valley Vintners provided a US$2.1 million grant which was in order to introduce a number of “wildfire resiliency” measures, including the creation of 100 miles of strategic fire roads and the establishment of 300 acres of native habitat to reduce wildfire risk.
Napa Valley Vintners also raised concerns about the risk of wildfires, and especially smoke taint affecting the quality of the grapes, with Congress earlier this year.
New deal
The new Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement is effective for three years from 1 July 2025 and valued at US$64.6m. In the first year, which is estimated to cost around US$20.5m, Napa County will cover an estimate US$14.85m, with the remainder being paid for by Veterans Home and the Town of Yountville.
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Matt Ryan, who is the fire chief for Napa County, commented that the package would ensure “a more robust and unified approach to safeguarding our communities from the threat of wildfires”.
As part of the agreement, two new full-time positions have been created: a fire equipment manager to oversee Napa County’s 97 fire apparatus, and a staff services analyst.
Anne Cottrell, chair of Napa County’s Board of Supervisors, added: “Through targeted staffing and smart resource deployment, we’re strengthening Napa County’s resilience and readiness.”
This latest agreement marks the continuation of a partnership between Napa County and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection which goes back to 1932.
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