Mosquito Fire: 50,330 acres in size, 25% containment line

The Mosquito Fire burning in El Dorado and Placer counties is now 50,330 acres in size and firefighters have been able to place a containment line around 25% of the fire.

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 activity increased significantly this afternoon due to the increased ventilation and available oxygen to support burning. That activity prompted more mandatory and warning areas of evacuations in both counties.

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, according to Section Chief Landon Haack. 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.

On the eastern end of the fire, crews are building containment lines and creating fire lines ahead of the eastern movement of the fire, using road systems much of the time.

Jonathan Pangburn updated those watching the nightly 7 p.m. briefing on fire behavior. With smoke sitting down the fire behavior was also kept down. As the weather changes and winds get a little stronger to give clean air, the potential for the progression of the fire in the northeast corner increases.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office said there were two major changes Tuesday - expansion of the evacuation zone and warning zone as the fire came up below Todd Valley. To date they have evacuated 5,976 residents, putting 282 people on a warning, with 90 people refusing to evacuate.

Today they met with residents in person that had lost their homes or have damaged homes, helping to facilitate their service needs.

So far, between the two counties, assessment teams have verified that 46 structures have been destroyed and five damaged.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said tonight they arrested two more people Tuesday for a total of 10 arrests and 1 citation - all for people they believe are victimizing those in the evacuation zones. There were additional evacuations at Stumpy Meadows.

For more on Placer County, visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/07930e6e8f034ae4bba71e8bfedb2779/page/Current-Incidents/, and for El Dorado County, visit https://edcgov.us/mosquito-fire-information