On Tuesday, stronger southwest winds throughout the fire area cleared the smoke inversion and caused fire behavior to become more active. The Mosquito Fire spotted across the Middle Fork of the American River into the Pond Creek Drainage, which is just below the community of Foresthill. Steep terrain and critically dry fuels drove rapid fire growth and an aggressive upslope run towards Foresthill Road. A large contingency of firefighters and additional equipment responded to this southeast corner of the fire to actively defend and hold the fire along contingency lines. Over the past week, crews have been preparing a large number of these contingency lines around the fire as a way to prepare for situations like this where the fire escapes primary control lines.

Overnight, firefighters successfully held the fire within control lines along the southern edge of Foresthill and Todd Valley. On the northwest corner, crews were able to continue strategic firing operations along control lines from the Foresthill Divide Road to Deadwood Road. This four-mile stretch of line is crucial for helping hook and stop the fire’s northern spread. A large number of dozers and heavy equipment continued to work through the night in the areas to the east of the fire to build indirect control lines ahead of the advancing fire front. The fire remains active on this eastern front, steadily burning and advancing in heavy unburned fuels.

Today’s number one priority remains strengthening and securing the southwest corner of the fire to protect and defend the communities of Foresthill and Todd Valley. Firefighters are prepared to actively engage in structure defense along the edges of these communities should the fire make similar runs as it did on Tuesday. Weather conditions are forecasted to be the same today with continued southwest winds, which will lead to clear skies and better ventilation for fire growth.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain for the communities surrounding the Mosquito Fire. Firefighters ask that residents take these orders seriously and leave the area when instructed to do so. The fire area remains a dynamic situation that may change at any time, as evidenced by the fire activity on Tuesday afternoon.

EVACUATIONS — PLACER COUNTY

View current Placer County evacuation orders and warnings on the interactive map: placer.ca.gov/evacuations.
ReadyPlacer dashboard for Mosquito Fire information: tinyurl.com/234azf6d

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

Zone 12

Zone 14

Zone 21

Zone 22

Evacuation Warnings are in effect for the following zones in Placer County:

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

EVACUATIONS — EL DORADO COUNTY

View current El Dorado County evacuation orders and warnings on the interactive map: bit.ly/3ATtqao

El Dorado County dashboard for Mosquito Fire information: edcgov.us/mosquito-fire-information

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)

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

ROAD CLOSURES

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

EVACUATION CENTERS

Placer County:

·       Sierra College, 5100 Sierra College Blvd., Rocklin, California. Enter on Rocklin Road for parking, which is in Lot B. Shelter is in cafeteria (building J).

El Dorado County:

·       Cameron Park Services District, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, California. Overnight shelter with meals, showers, limited health services, and parking for trailers. Animals in crates and carriers are allowed.

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

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, California (small animals only)

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

·       Flying M Ranch, 5421 Buck Mountain Road, Placerville, California (large animals only)

NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURES

National Forest System lands, roads, and trails in the vicinity of the Mosquito Fire are closed under Tahoe National Forest Order No. 17-22-09 (tinyurl.com/2dfxw6v9, includes map) and Eldorado National Forest Order No. 03-22-16 (tinyurl.com/5dxz5cp6, includes map).

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: tinyurl.com/4pkujys9