photo credit: CalFire
Bulldozers lined up in a vineyard to help fight the Pickett Fire northeast of Calistoga.

The Pickett Fire which has burned just over 6,800 acres in Napa County is estimated to have cost at least $65 million in agricultural losses as well, the county said Wednesday.

Figures from a Napa County Agricultural Damage Assessment Survey begun on Monday show reported damage to about 1,500 acres, or over 3 percent of Napa Valley's produce acreage, the county said.

Losses are estimated to impact growers, vintners and other agricultural producers. The majority of damage is to winegrapes and beehives.

According to the survey, 20 percent of ag producers reported fire or heat damage, with 80 percent reporting potential smoke impacts.

"The estimates will inform a damage assessment report," said the county in a Wednesday release, "which may help qualify the county and its agricultural producers for state and federal assistance."

As of Wednesday evening, the Pickett Fire was 29 percent contained. The blaze, which began Thursday afternoon near the 2300 block of Pickett Road near Calistoga, has prompted several evacuation orders and warnings.

According to Cal Fire, large chunks of dead timber are fueling the persistent flames.