"Very, very low chance" the 63,776-acre Mosquito Fire comes to South Lake Tahoe and Homewood

The Mosquito Fire has now burned 63,776 acres and remains 20% contained.

During a reconnaissance flight over the fire Wednesday afternoon, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 Operations Chief Dave Soldavini reported seeing very little smoke on the west side of the fire, from roughly the Volcanoville and Foresthill areas on the south to the Michigan Bluff and Chicken Hawk Ridge areas on the north. Firefighters working in Foresthill had a very productive day mopping up hotspots and securing the fireline around the community. The fire was most active on the north and east sides, particularly where it is burning in an area of continuous, previously unburned vegetation between the King and American fire scars. North of Stumpy Meadows Reservoir, fire behavior was relatively minimal, and crews are endeavoring to keep the fire north of Wentworth Springs Road.

During their Wednesday evening briefing, fire officials said their biggest obstacles right now are in the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River. The land is rugged, steep, and dangerous with multiple river drainages. Firing operations have continued to the east of the current fire perimeter and firefighters have been able to get in closer to the current fire than they expected. There is heavy fuel loading in much of the eastern area as there has been no fire in recent decades, especially north/northeast of the King Fire.

At this time fire behaviorists are saying the chance of the fire getting to South Lake Tahoe, and between South Lake Tahoe and Homewood is "very, very low." The area along the Rubicon Trail and Loon Lake is not a high probability as well.

Jonathan Pangburn said the weather was generally in the fire crews' favor today. The wind from the Southwest to the northeast helped in the Stumpy Meadows area and a slow spread in Deadwood Canyon. There was no spread of fire in Todd Valley.

"It's looking fantastic in the Foresthill area," Pangburn said.

There were no new evacuation zones added on Wednesday. Many people are asked when they can return to their homes and the Incident Commanders are telling them as soon as it is safe. That determination will be made by the Placer County and El Dorado County sheriff's offices as they meet daily with fire officials. People will receive an alert when there is a change in their evacuation status, so it is important to be signed up through counties for those alerts.

Some historic features are being protected at this time, including historic cabins which have been wrapped, a cemetery that is being watched, along with the northernmost strand of Giant Sequoias trees.

There is a weather system moving into the west late Saturday. Before then the wind will behave as it has been and there will be some lower temperatures which will help in firefighting efforts. The persistent winds should become stronger with the new system. At this time the National Weather Service says there is a 60% chance of a wetting rain ...1/4 inch, though models aren't in agreement with exactly where and when. Snow levels will be about 8000 feet, and the fire is currently well below that level.

At this time, 64 structures have been found to be destroyed in El Dorado County, with 10 damaged. Placer County is notifying people in person first, then will post that information.