Crews hustled into steep, remote terrain before sunrise today as a vegetation fire flared in the Knoxville area near the Napa-Lake County line, sending smoke drifting over parts of Napa County and rattling nearby residents out of their usual morning routine.
According to the County of Napa, firefighters were responding to what officials are calling the "Head Fire" in the Knoxville area. Additional resources were requested, including five more engines, three water tenders, two hand crews and two dozers. The county warned that people in the region "may see or smell smoke" and urged residents to follow CAL FIRE LNU for updates.
You may see or smell smoke in parts of Napa County today as firefighters respond to the head fire in the Knoxville area near the Napa/Lake County line. Follow CAL FIRE LNU for updates. #HeadFire https://t.co/8d3rJiCO9W
— Napa County (@NapaCountyGov) June 29, 2026
Fire Growth And Response
The blaze was first reported at 6:26 AM in the Devils Head area near Knoxville, and smoke was visible on remote cameras, according to SFGATE. Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit initially sent engines, dozers, hand crews and water tenders to the scene, then added aircraft as the fire showed active head-fire behavior.
Officials later reported that the fire had expanded. The Sacramento Bee's wildfire tracker listed the Head Fire at roughly 70 acres after a couple of hours of activity and noted that numerous air tankers and additional resources were flying missions as conditions allowed. At the time of that update, there were no confirmed threats to homes and no evacuation orders, according to the paper.
Smoke, Roads And Public-Health Tips
According to the County of Napa, the fire was approaching Berryessa-Knoxville Road, raising the odds of temporary road closures and spot fires downwind. Residents in low-lying areas were advised to be ready for smoky conditions and to keep an eye on official channels for road and safety notices, just in case the situation changes quickly.
The California Air Resources Board notes that smoke can be especially harmful to children, older adults and people with lung or heart conditions. Those groups are urged to limit outdoor activity and keep windows closed while smoke is present. The AirNow fire and smoke map can help residents track current air quality in real time.
How To Follow Updates
For real-time incident information, follow CAL FIRE LNU on X and monitor official County of Napa channels for any evacuation notices or major status changes.
