Community Corner
Napa Prosecutors Charge Man With Starting Pickett Fire
Prosecutors charged a 45-year-old man with starting the Pickett Fire and causing millions in losses.
NAPA VALLEY, CA — Prosecutors charged a Napa man with starting the Pickett Fire and causing more than $6 million in losses, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced.
Prosecutors charged Juan Luis Gutierrez Marfil, 45, with felony recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest. They also filed a special allegation that the offense caused more than $6 million in losses.
Marfil is suspected of causing the Pickett Fire on Aug. 21, 2025, on the 2300 block of Pickett Road in north Calistoga.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Napa County District Attorney’s Office said it would release no further details about the incident as Deputy District Attorney Amy Bailey prepares the prosecution’s case against Marfil.
The criminal prosecution is separate from pending civil proceedings related to the fire, and the District Attorney’s Office said it would not comment on those matters.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Marfil is scheduled for an arraignment hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 9, 2026, in Department 1 of Napa County Superior Court.
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