Prosecutors in Napa County, California, have charged a winery worker in connection with a wildfire that scorched nearly 7,000 acres in the region last summer. Juan Luis Gutierrez Marfill, 45, who worked as a gardener at Hundred Acre Wines, faces a felony count of recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest.

The fire, known as the Pickett Fire, ignited on August 21, 2025, in north Calistoga, a city at the northern end of Napa Valley with a population of roughly 5,000. Over the course of more than two weeks, the blaze burned more than 10 square miles before firefighters were able to fully contain it. The wildfire destroyed five structures and forced hundreds of residents under evacuation orders and warnings. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

The fire affected vineyards during Napa’s peak harvest season, damaging approximately 7,000 acres of grape crops. An initial assessment from the Napa County agricultural commissioner’s office estimated agricultural losses at $65 million, primarily attributed to damaged wine grapes, though some beehives were also impacted.

Last month, three winemakers launched a lawsuit against Hundred Acre Wines’ owner, citing damage to their harvests caused by smoke from the fire. A spokesperson for Hundred Acre Wines, Sam Singer, said the company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, calling them unproven and disputing the claims regarding the fire’s cause and the responsibility for losses.

Mr. Singer also indicated that Mr. Marfill was working as an independent contractor for Hundred Acre Wines at the time of the incident and had previously been employed by Kelly Fleming Vineyards, which Hundred Acre acquired in 2024.

It is currently unclear whether Mr. Marfill has obtained legal counsel. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and fines. He is scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court on September 9, when he is expected to enter a plea.