Size: 76,788 acres

Containment: 90%
Total Personnel: 1,628

CURRENT SITUATION

On Friday, favorable weather provided crews on the Mosquito Fire an opportunity to make extensive progress on the north end of the fire where activity had picked up within an unburned island of vegetation west of Deadwood Road. No forward progression of the fire is expected. Firefighters will focus on reinforcing containment lines over the next several days, and determine how to safely access several small portions of the eastern flank where it has been difficult due to steep terrain. Backhaul operations continue around the perimeter of the fire. Crews are removing hose lays, pumps, and other excessive equipment that is no longer needed to support suppression efforts. Unmanned aircraft systems are being utilized to patrol for hot spots, and aviation resources will be used if necessary in those areas inaccessible to ground crews.

Special mitigation crews have begun the laborious work of removing hazard trees along roadways, especially along Foresthill and Mosquito Ridge Roads. This work is critical to not only reducing future wildfire risk, but also to ensuring the safety of residents, visitors, Forest employees, cooperators and critical infrastructure (utility/transmission lines).

Due to heavy equipment performing suppression repair activities, the public may see heavy dust clouds, which may mimic the appearance of smoke. These dust clouds will have a brown or tan appearance, unlike smoke from the burned area, which is whiter in color. Dust clouds also dissipate and fall quickly, unlike smoke. If you think you see smoke, contact your local fire department.

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has begun work within the Mosquito Fire footprint. This team, consisting of scientists and specialists, collects field data during burned area surveys to analyze through GIS and computer models and present their findings and emergency stabilization treatments to land management agencies who have jurisdictional boundaries within the burned area. Follow their activity on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8430/

ROAD AND NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURES

·       Mosquito Ridge Road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice. Staffed roadblocks will be located at several intersections.

·       For Placer County Road closures, visit ReadyPlacer.org

·       For El Dorado County road closures, visit EDCGov.us

·       National Forest System lands, roads, and trails in the vicinity of the Mosquito Fire are closed under multiple orders: Tahoe National Forest Order No. 17-22-09 (tinyurl.com/2dfxw6v9); Eldorado National Forest Order No. 03-22-17 (tinyurl.com/3rtd9rm9)