Single Publication

Size: 76,781 acres
Containment: 60%
Total Personnel: 1,805

CURRENT SITUATION

As of September 23, 2022 at 7:00 a.m., California Interagency Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the Mosquito Fire and unified command between CAL FIRE, Placer County Sheriff, and El Dorado County Sheriff has been disbanded.

Minimal fire activity and growth occurred on Thursday as well as overnight. This subdued fire activity is in direct relation to the significant wetting rains that cleared out after providing four days of precipitation over the fire area. These steady rain showers, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity created a speed bump effect on the Mosquito Fire, slowing the fire down to just a creeping and smoldering pace. However, the warming trend that started Thursday has started the process of drying out the fuels again and creates the possibility for fire activity to increase in the coming days. The weather will continue to be sunny, warm, and dry with temperatures slowly increasing throughout the weekend. This forecasted weather will also decrease relative humidity which will continue to allow fuels to get back to their critically dry fuel moisture, especially the bigger vegetation, such as heavy dead and down trees, which did not receive enough moisture throughout the storm to cease continued burning.

Firefighters on the ground continue the critical mission of containing the remainder of the fire’s perimeter. Crews will continue connecting all the sections of control line along the eastern flank. Working in the steep and rugged terrain, specifically around the multiple river drainages, remains a challenging task for crews. Aircraft, primarily helicopters, have been assisting in these efforts through water and retardant dropping operations. These coordinated bucket drops of several-hundred gallons of water or retardant help extinguish or slow the spread of hot spots still burning along the fire’s edge. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are used to map the fire as well as reconnaissance to find hidden hot spots that crews cannot see from the ground. These aerial assets are essential in the coordinated efforts of suppressing this fire.

Fire suppression repair work continues in areas where active fire suppression efforts are complete. Multiple crews are assigned to this large and important operation and are working directly with forest resource advisors. These efforts are to repair or minimize damage to the soil, water, and other resources attributed to fire suppression. This includes items such as removing dozer berms, installing water bars for erosion, repairing roads, and repairing damaged items like fences.

EVACUATIONS — PLACER COUNTY

Placer County Sheriff’s Office: tinyurl.com/53rt9d48, Mosquito Fire information: tinyurl.com/234azf6d

No Evacuation Orders or Warnings are in place for Placer County.

EVACUATIONS — EL DORADO COUNTY

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

Evacuation Warnings are in effect for the following El Dorado County areas: Stumpy Meadows.

ROAD CLOSURES

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

ANIMAL SHELTERS

Placer County:

·       Gold Country Fairgrounds, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn, California (Closing Friday, 9-23-22)

El Dorado County:

·       Diamond Springs Shelter, 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, California (small animals only)

·       Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center: call 916-985-7334 for information (Closing 9-25-22)

·       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 multiple orders. Maps are included in the Orders linked below.

·       Rubicon Jeep Trail: Tahoe National Forest Order No. 17-22-10 (tinyurl.com/3uapupe5), Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Order No. 19-22-07 (tinyurl.com/2p9ckfcr)

·       Tahoe National Forest Order No. 17-22-09 (tinyurl.com/2dfxw6v9)

·       Eldorado National Forest Order No. 03-22-17 (tinyurl.com/3rtd9rm9)

POST FIRE ASSISTANCE

Placer County Local Assistance Center (tinyurl.com/65xbsw6t):

·       24750 Main St., Foresthill, California (old Foresthill Elementary School)

·       September 23, 2022 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

·       Placer County Fire Recovery website: placer.ca.gov/Mosquito-Fire-Recovery

El Dorado County Local Assistance Center (tinyurl.com/9svdyrr3):

·       330 Fair Lane, Placerville, California

·       September 23, 2022 (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and September 24, 2022 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)