Mosquito Fire: 76,788 acres and 90% containment

Over 1,400 personnel remain assigned to the Mosquito Fire as they work towards full fire suppression, suppression repair and strengthening, contingency firelines and hazard tree abatement.

The Mosquito fire is 76,788 acres in size and there is a containment line around 90 percent of the fire.

Firefighters are still fully suppressing the fire and significant ground crews and aerial resources are still working on the fire. Firefighters are working to secure firelines in the Blacksmith area and build containment lines in areas difficult to access along Eleven Pines Road on the east side of the fire. Firefighters cannot access the Rubicon River drainage because the very steep terrain is not safe to do so.

Contingency fireline, further away, is in place to contain the fire should any unanticipated spread occur. Hotshot crews are also suppressing hot spots of unburned vegetation within the fire’s perimeter. Fire crews work to improve the road conditions around and within the fire’s perimeter. Specialized crews are working extensively on hazard tree mitigation, especially along Mosquito Ridge Road. Hazard tree mitigation operations often mimic commercial logging operations. However, there are no active commercial logging activities currently within the fire area. Piles of logs (decks) that will eventually be removed are being created in areas of heavy tree removal. These dead, diseased, or fire-stressed trees pose a safety risk to visitors, forest employees, cooperators, and critical infrastructure.

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established by the Tahoe National Forest and Eldorado National Forest to begin post-fire burned area assessments of the Mosquito Fire. BAER team assessments and resulting recommendations typically take approximately two weeks to complete.