Incident Update Mosquito Fire

Qr code for updates
Date:
09/13/2022
Time:
7:37 PM

Incident Facts

Name
Mosquito Fire
Start Date/Time
2022-09-06
Incident Status
Active
Location
Mosquito Road and OxBow Reservoir east of Foresthill, Placer County
Type
Wildfire
Cause
Under Investigation
Counties
El Dorado, Placer
Administration Unit
Unified Command: CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer, CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado, Tahoe National Forest, El Dorado National Forest, Foresthill Fire Protection District, El Dorado County and Placer County Sheriff’s Office
Unified Command Agency(s)
US Forest Service: Tahoe National Forest , Placer County Sheriffs Office , Forest Hill Fire Protection District
Size
50,330
Containment
25%
Structures Threatened
5,848
Structures Destroyed
46
Structures Damaged
5
Civilian Injuries
Firefighter Injuries
Civilian Fatalities
Firefighter Fatalities

Current Situation

Situation Summary

Today’s slightly stronger southwest winds aloft broke up the smoke inversion that has been hanging over the Mosquito Fire for the past several days. With the smoke inversion clearing out by midday, the fire actively increased significantly this afternoon due to the increased ventilation and available oxygen to support burning.

This afternoon, a spot fire jumped the Middle Fork of the American River on the west corner of the fire’s perimeter in the Pond Creek Drainage. Due to the critically dry fuels, steep terrain, and increased ventilation, the spot fire grew rapidly towards the community of Foresthill. Firefighters and resources from around the fire have been diverted to assist with holding this corner of the fire at the contingency lines that have been put in place by crews over the past week below the community. Firefighters and a large aircraft contingency, including both fixed and rotor wing aircraft, have been engaging in active structure defense, defensive firing operations, and working to hold the advancing spot fire at control lines and protect the surrounding communities.

The fire also remained active on the north corner of the fire just north of Chicken Hawk Road. Crews continue to actively construct control lines and utilize strategic firing operations when possible in an effort to hook this corner and cut off its growth to the north. The Mosquito Fire continues to advance steadily to the east in heavily forested areas with extremely dry vegetation. Crews continue to construct indirect lines and utilize existing road systems ahead of the advancing fire to cut off the fire’s growth to the east. On the southeast corner of the fire, the fire’s edge continues to move towards Stumpy Meadows where firefighters are being challenged with difficult terrain and opportunities to stop the fire in the Rubicon River drainage.

Southwest winds and cooler temperatures continue to be forecasted for the next several days which should create similar weather conditions as seen on Tuesday, thus clearing the smoke inversion earlier in the day.

Road Closures

View road closures in the vicinity of the Mosquito Fire on the Caltrans interactive map:
https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

U.S. Forest Closures

El Dorado National Forest: The forest has issued a Forest Closure Order No. 03-22-16 which includes lands, roads and trails in the Mosquito Fire Area. View this order and related maps here: https://tinyurl.com/5dxz5cp6

Tahoe National Forest: The Tahoe National Forest has issued Forest Closure Order No. 17-22-09 which includes lands, roads and trails in the Mosquito Fire Area. View this order and related maps here:https://tinyurl.com/2dfxw6v9

Structure Status

A Damage Inspection Specialist (DINS) Team has started assessments in both El Dorado and Placer Counties. These assessments will be ongoing and will be updated as completed.

Placer County:
Please call Placer County OES at 530-886-5390

El Dorado County:
Please visit: https://tinyurl.com/4pkujys9

Evacuation Zones

Evacuation Information:

Evacuation Orders

For maps and evacuation information, visit https://sites.google.com/view/mosquitofire/home

Placer County:
For a map of current evacuation orders in Placer County, please visit:
https://pcsogis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=34e6172213b540c8b8b064d8a7da4f76

Evacuation Orders are in effect for the following zones in Placer County:
Zone 1: Michigan Bluff
Zone 2: Baker Ranch Mobile Home Park
Zone 3
Zone 4: Downtown Foresthill
Zone 5
Zone 6

Zone 7: Todd Valley
Zone 8: Sierra Vista Mobile Home Park
Zone 9: North Side of Foresthill Road
Zone 10: Spring Garden/Whitehawk Ridge

Zone 11A: Yankee Jims and Shirttail Canyon (NEW)
Zone 12
Zone 14
Zone 21
Zone 22

Ready Placer Fire Information:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/07930e6e8f034ae4bba71e8bfedb2779/page/Current-Incidents/

El Dorado County:
For a map of current evacuation orders in El Dorado County, please visit:
https://eldoradocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bfbfd933f4254a0db4bdbb2ebe866c10&fbclid=IwAR3J_vO2T2MoA2zjHn365vLIISMCF5egSMFVcitiW4mFe1NWN75v65Dt32I

Evacuation Orders are in effect for the following areas in El Dorado County:
Area Name: Volcanoville
Area Name: Quintette
Area Name: Bald Mountain
Area Name: Grey Eagle
Area Name: Canyon Creek
Area Name: Georgetown

Area Name: Stumpy Meadows (NEW)

El Dorado County Fire Information:
https://edcgov.us/mosquito-fire-information

Evacuation Centers

Placer County
Sierra College
5100 Sierra College Blvd.
Rocklin, CA (enter on Rocklin Road)
Parking will be in Lot B
Shelter will be in cafeteria (building J)
**THE PREVIOUS SHELTER IN AUBURN HAS NOW CLOSED**

El Dorado County
Cameron Park Services District
2502 Country Club Drive
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Overnight shelter, meals, showers, limited health services, and parking for trailers will be provided. Animals in crates and carriers will be accepted.

Green Valley Community Church
3500 Missouri Flat Road
Placerville, CA
RV parking is limited and no hookups. Small domestic animals in crates or on leashes are allowed (no large animals or birds).

Animal Evacuation Centers

Placer County
Placer County Animal Services Center (Reached capacity and has suspended new intakes)
11232 B Avenue
Auburn, CA 95603

Nevada County Fairgrounds (Ceasing operation on 9-13-2022 and safely relocating animals to Gold Country Fairgrounds)
11228 McCourtney Road
Grass Valley, CA 95949

Gold Country Fairgrounds (Opening on 9-14-2022)
209 Fairgate Road
Auburn, CA 95603

Diamond Springs Shelter (small animals only)
6435 Capitol Avenue
Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center (equines only)
Call for information: 916-985-7334

Flying M Ranch (large animals only)
5421 Buck Mountain Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Evacuation Warnings

Placer County:

For a map of current evacuation warnings in Placer County, please visit:
https://pcsogis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=34e6172213b540c8b8b064d8a7da4f76

Evacuation Warnings are in effect for the following zones in Placer County:
Zone 11A: Yankee Jims and Shirttail Canyon
Zone 15: Foresthill Road at Lake Clementine
Zone 23
Zone 25: Sawtooth Ridge to the American River

Zone 26: Iowa Hill Road at Mineral Bar to Elliott Bar Ranch Road, North of Big Dipper, Adelia Hill (NEW)

Ready Placer Fire Information:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/07930e6e8f034ae4bba71e8bfedb2779/page/Current-Incidents/

El Dorado County:

For a map of current evacuation warnings in El Dorado County, please visit:
https://eldoradocounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bfbfd933f4254a0db4bdbb2ebe866c10&fbclid=IwAR3J_vO2T2MoA2zjHn365vLIISMCF5egSMFVcitiW4mFe1NWN75v65Dt32I

Evacuation Warnings are in effect for the following areas in El Dorado County:
Area Name: Cool
Area Name: Garden Valley
Area Name: Swansboro / Slate Mountain
Area Name: East Stumpy Meadows

El Dorado County Fire Information:
https://edcgov.us/mosquito-fire-information

Animal Shelters

  • Placer County Animal Services Center, 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, California (Reached capacity and has suspended new intakes)
  • Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, California (Ceasing operation on 9-13-2022 and safely relocating animals to Gold Country Fairgrounds)
  • Gold Country Fairgrounds, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn, California (opening 9-14-2022)
  • Diamond Springs Shelter, 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 (small animals only)
  • Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center, Call for information: 916-985-7334 (equines only)
  • Flying M Ranch, 5421 Buck Mountain Road, Placerville, CA 95667 (large animals only)

Assigned Resources

Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

Water Tenders
80
Dozers
65
Hand Crews
32
Total Personnel
3052

Cooperating Agencies

Name Phone Address URL
Foresthill Fire Protection District, CALTRANS, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, USFS El Dorado National Forest, California Highway Patrol, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California State Parks, American Red Cross, Placer County Water Agency, Sierra Pacific Industries, California Highway Patrol