Good work on the Mosquito Fire which is now 34% contained, 74,748 acres in size

Fire crews made great progress on Saturday and overnight and were able to get a containment line around 34% of the Mosquito Fire. The fire has now burned 74,748 acres.

Colder temperatures, good humidity recovery, and precipitation arrived overnight with the forecasted storm system. Rain showers are expected to continue throughout the day and become heavier this evening and into
Monday. Southwest winds are predicted to become stronger midday with 24-28 mph gusts over the ridges. Higher humidity and temperatures in the 50s are expected for the fire area today.

Firefighters worked throughout the night to patrol, hold, and improve existing containment lines around the fire’s perimeter, especially along the impacted communities on the south and western flanks. On the north end
of the fire, crews continued to monitor and hold the control lines on Deadwood Road as there had been increased pockets of heat below those lines on Friday. Firefighters continued suppressing fire activity and secured the slop over along the eastern front between the Middle Fork of the American River and French Meadows Road. Crews successfully continued firing operations overnight along the Interbay Road until precipitation arrived early this morning. These operations continue to aid firefighters in stopping the fire’s spread eastward. Day shift firefighters will work to tie in control lines coming down from the Eleven Pines Road through Devil’s Peak to the rim of the Rubicon River. Control lines consisting of dozer and hand lines connect the dots around the southeast corner back to Stumpy Meadows and Wentworth Springs Road.

As rain showers are forecasted to continue through the day and become heavier overnight, crews will look for opportunities to make containment progress as it is safe to do so. Firefighters will continue shoring up the
corners of the fire and ensure the southern and western flanks hold along the communities. Firefighters will also continue the process of backhauling unneeded hose, tools, and equipment from areas where they are no longer needed. Each day, operations section chiefs, law enforcement officials, and cooperators continue reevaluating the evacuation status of communities as they work towards safely repopulating these areas.

Placer County - Interactive evacuation map: placer.ca.gov/evacuations, Mosquito Fire information: tinyurl.com/234azf6d

El Dorado County - Interactive evacuation map: bit.ly/3ATtqao, Mosquito Fire information: edcgov.us/mosquito-fire-information