A fast-moving wildfire in Northern California is burning north and northeast in Placer County, triggering additional evacuations as firefighters battle the flames.The Mosquito Fire started on the evening of Sept. 6 near Mosquito Ridge Road on the north side of the Oxbow Reservoir. The Oxbow Reservoir is about 11 miles east of the community of Foresthill. Foresthill is located about 20 miles northeast of Auburn.The fire continues to threaten several communities across Placer and El Dorado counties, including Georgetown and Foresthill.As of Monday evening, the Mosquito Fire has grown to 48,700 acres, as mapped by the state’s Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System. That’s a slight increase from the 48,509 acres reported Monday afternoon. The fire is now 16% containment.With additional evacuations ordered, there are 5,848 structures threatened.“There was no significant growth on the southeast corner of the fire on Sunday, which gave crews more time to construct control lines coming out of Stumpy Meadows,” Cal Fire said Monday morning.Cal Fire added that the fire continues to progress to the north and east. Although this week is bringing cooler temperatures, the agency said it worried that historically dry fuel moisture would continue to drive the fire’s growth. Monday’s forecast is also looking similar to Sunday, with a smoke inversion in the fire area in the morning and southwest winds clearing the smoke by the afternoon. However, the southwest winds could push the fire to the northeast areas, Cal Fire said. “With clearer air in the afternoon, fire activity is predicted to increase as it has in the past several days,” officials said.Cal Fire said the steep and rugged terrain of the fire makes it difficult for crews to access the fire directly.While fire crews have started gaining containment on the Mosquito Fire, there is still no word as to the number of homes lost. Sunday morning KCRA 3 surveyed as much area as possible behind fire lines.Homes were found burned down on Michigan Bluff Road, parallel to Gorman Ranch Road, while many homes near the historical district of Michigan Bluff are still standing.Homes observed in Foresthill and down Chicken Hawk Road were also untouched by fire as of Sunday morning. Though many homes in the area are down a private road and could not be seen from the public road.Cal Fire hopes to fully contain the fire by Oct. 15. However, containment is not a measure of how much of the fire is extinguished but rather a gauge as to how much of a line crews have around the fire perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading.“Combined with very low fuel moistures fire conditions are likely to replicate today’s behavior during the overnight period and into tomorrow’s operational period,” Cal Fire said.See all evacuation orders and warnings below. App users, click here.Evacuation centersPlacer CountySierra College — 5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677 (Parking in Lot B, shelter will be in the Building J cafeteria)El Dorado CountyCameron Park Services District — 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682. Overnight shelter, meals, showers, limited health services and parking for trailers will be provided. Animals in crates and carriers will also be accepted.Green Valley Community Church — 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville, CA. This location with accept human and small domestic animals on leashes or in creates. No Large animal and no birds. Limited RV parking and no hookups.Animal evacuation centersPlacer CountyPlacer County Animal Services Center — 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603Nevada County Fairgrounds — 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949Diamond Spring Shelter — 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, CA 95619Flying M Ranch — 5421 Buck Mountain Road, Placerville, CA 95667Road ClosuresThe Placer County Sheriff’s Office said hard road closures are in place on Foresthill Road and Lincoln Way in Auburn. There are also closures at the Old Foresthill Road at the Confluence.The eastbound Interstate 80 offramp to Foresthill Road is closed due to the fire.(Click through the gallery below for a glimpse at the firefight.) State of emergency declared Placer County issued a local emergency due to the blaze on Thursday. “A local emergency proclamation asserts continuing risk to life and property and that the response is beyond the capabilities of local resources,” a release from the county said. “Placer’s proclamation requests state and federal assistance, but neither a state nor a federal disaster has yet been declared that would authorize individual disaster assistance for residents and businesses.” Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday also declared a state of emergency in Placer and El Dorado counties due to the fires. With the state of emergency declared, that opens up federal resources to assist in combating the fire.Smoke from wildfire leaves Northern California skies hazy | VIDEO BELOW | Here’s an aerial look from LiveCopter 3 of the Mosquito FireDrivers moved through a haze along Highway 50, going through areas like Folsom and El Dorado Hills.“It smells really smoky. It looks really hazy. There’s not an ounce of blue in the sky,” said Pam Malone of Folsom.Like many, she was limiting her time outdoors because of the unhealthy air quality. At the El Dorado Hills Town Center on Friday, some people masked up and most avoided spending too much time walking around outside.“The parking lot has a lot of cars. I think people are just trying to get out of the outdoors and come inside,” said Andrea Riso, owner of Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers. “It definitely slows business. People are concerned for the air quality value.”Still, she did what she could to make things comfortable for her customers inside her shop. “It’s like Armageddon outside, but we’re battening down the hatches and making sure that it’s easy to breathe inside. Nice and cool,” Riso said.More El Dorado County residents had to evacuate when Mosquito Fire jumped the American River Mandatory evacuations in El Dorado County included parts of the communities of Volcanoville, Bottle Hill and Georgetown. The Main Street area of Georgetown was bustling with activity Thursday, as people heeded the evacuation orders and left town.KCRA 3’s Orko Manna spoke to Volcanoville residents who had to evacuate. Linda Gamble explained how a sheriff’s deputy had to escort her during the evacuation Thursday.”He had to drive through the fire to get us out,” Gamble said. “We live in a trailer, and if we lose it, we’ve lost everything… If our trailer burns down, where are we going to live? It’s just very scary.”Judy Habig, who evacuated her Volcanoville home with her husband Clifford, said they left their residence a little bit earlier in the day. Still, she described the whole ordeal as a blur.”Horrible. Sad,” Judy Habig said. “We didn’t cry or panic. We were in shock. You just go like a robot.”Mandatory evacuations expanded into Georgetown in El Dorado County and the community of Todd Valley in Placer County on Thursday.Evacuation warnings for issued for the El Dorado County communities of Cool, Pilot Hill Garden Valley and Kelsey, along with the surrounding areas. With evacuation warnings, you are not lawfully required to leave but are recommended to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice in case fire behavior becomes threatening.Some homes destroyed in the Mosquito Fire The fire burned through the area of Michigan Bluff Road near High Street Wednesday afternoon, destroying some homes. Cal Fire has not yet confirmed how many structures may have burned. PG&E files incident report to CPUCIt’s still unclear how the Mosquito Fire started. However, PG&E filed a report with the state’s public utility commission for a pole near where the fire started. The U.S. Forest Service had placed “caution tape around the base of a PG&E transmission pole” the report said on Thursday. “Thus far, PG&E has observed no damage or abnormal conditions to the pole or our facilities near Oxbow Reservoir, has not observed down conductor in the area or any vegetation related issues.”PG&E is investigating. Here’s a look at the current air quality in Northern CaliforniaSmoke from the Mosquito Fire burning in Placer and El Dorado counties will continue to impact areas across the Sacramento region on Monday, according to Spare the Air. The Sacramento Metropolitan, El Dorado, Feather River, Placer and Yolo-Solano air districts forecast unhealthy air quality for the region that will range from moderate to hazardous.| MORE | Sacramento region’s air quality impacted by unhealthy smoke from the Mosquito Fire
A fast-moving wildfire in Northern California is burning north and northeast in Placer County, triggering additional evacuations as firefighters battle the flames.
The Mosquito Fire started on the evening of Sept. 6 near Mosquito Ridge Road on the north side of the Oxbow Reservoir. The Oxbow Reservoir is about 11 miles east of the community of Foresthill. Foresthill is located about 20 miles northeast of Auburn.
The fire continues to threaten several communities across Placer and El Dorado counties, including Georgetown and Foresthill.
As of Monday evening, the Mosquito Fire has grown to 48,700 acres, as mapped by the state’s Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System. That’s a slight increase from the 48,509 acres reported Monday afternoon. The fire is now 16% containment.
With additional evacuations ordered, there are 5,848 structures threatened.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
“There was no significant growth on the southeast corner of the fire on Sunday, which gave crews more time to construct control lines coming out of Stumpy Meadows,” Cal Fire said Monday morning.
Cal Fire added that the fire continues to progress to the north and east. Although this week is bringing cooler temperatures, the agency said it worried that historically dry fuel moisture would continue to drive the fire’s growth.
Monday’s forecast is also looking similar to Sunday, with a smoke inversion in the fire area in the morning and southwest winds clearing the smoke by the afternoon.
However, the southwest winds could push the fire to the northeast areas, Cal Fire said.
“With clearer air in the afternoon, fire activity is predicted to increase as it has in the past several days,” officials said.
Cal Fire said the steep and rugged terrain of the fire makes it difficult for crews to access the fire directly.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
While fire crews have started gaining containment on the Mosquito Fire, there is still no word as to the number of homes lost. Sunday morning KCRA 3 surveyed as much area as possible behind fire lines.
Homes were found burned down on Michigan Bluff Road, parallel to Gorman Ranch Road, while many homes near the historical district of Michigan Bluff are still standing.
Homes observed in Foresthill and down Chicken Hawk Road were also untouched by fire as of Sunday morning. Though many homes in the area are down a private road and could not be seen from the public road.
Cal Fire hopes to fully contain the fire by Oct. 15. However, containment is not a measure of how much of the fire is extinguished but rather a gauge as to how much of a line crews have around the fire perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading.
“Combined with very low fuel moistures fire conditions are likely to replicate today’s behavior during the overnight period and into tomorrow’s operational period,” Cal Fire said.
Evacuation centers
Placer County
Sierra College — 5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677 (Parking in Lot B, shelter will be in the Building J cafeteria)
El Dorado County
Cameron Park Services District — 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682. Overnight shelter, meals, showers, limited health services and parking for trailers will be provided. Animals in crates and carriers will also be accepted.
Green Valley Community Church — 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville, CA. This location with accept human and small domestic animals on leashes or in creates. No Large animal and no birds. Limited RV parking and no hookups.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Animal evacuation centers
Placer County
Placer County Animal Services Center — 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603
Nevada County Fairgrounds — 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949
Diamond Spring Shelter — 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, CA 95619
Flying M Ranch — 5421 Buck Mountain Road, Placerville, CA 95667
Road Closures
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said hard road closures are in place on Foresthill Road and Lincoln Way in Auburn. There are also closures at the Old Foresthill Road at the Confluence.
The eastbound Interstate 80 offramp to Foresthill Road is closed due to the fire.
(Click through the gallery below for a glimpse at the firefight.)
State of emergency declared
Placer County issued a local emergency due to the blaze on Thursday.
“A local emergency proclamation asserts continuing risk to life and property and that the response is beyond the capabilities of local resources,” a release from the county said. “Placer’s proclamation requests state and federal assistance, but neither a state nor a federal disaster has yet been declared that would authorize individual disaster assistance for residents and businesses.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday also declared a state of emergency in Placer and El Dorado counties due to the fires. With the state of emergency declared, that opens up federal resources to assist in combating the fire.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Smoke from wildfire leaves Northern California skies hazy
| VIDEO BELOW | Here’s an aerial look from LiveCopter 3 of the Mosquito Fire
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Drivers moved through a haze along Highway 50, going through areas like Folsom and El Dorado Hills.
“It smells really smoky. It looks really hazy. There’s not an ounce of blue in the sky,” said Pam Malone of Folsom.
Like many, she was limiting her time outdoors because of the unhealthy air quality.
At the El Dorado Hills Town Center on Friday, some people masked up and most avoided spending too much time walking around outside.
“The parking lot has a lot of cars. I think people are just trying to get out of the outdoors and come inside,” said Andrea Riso, owner of Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers. “It definitely slows business. People are concerned for the air quality value.”
Still, she did what she could to make things comfortable for her customers inside her shop.
“It’s like Armageddon outside, but we’re battening down the hatches and making sure that it’s easy to breathe inside. Nice and cool,” Riso said.
More El Dorado County residents had to evacuate when Mosquito Fire jumped the American River
Mandatory evacuations in El Dorado County included parts of the communities of Volcanoville, Bottle Hill and Georgetown. The Main Street area of Georgetown was bustling with activity Thursday, as people heeded the evacuation orders and left town.
KCRA 3’s Orko Manna spoke to Volcanoville residents who had to evacuate. Linda Gamble explained how a sheriff’s deputy had to escort her during the evacuation Thursday.
“He had to drive through the fire to get us out,” Gamble said. “We live in a trailer, and if we lose it, we’ve lost everything… If our trailer burns down, where are we going to live? It’s just very scary.”
Judy Habig, who evacuated her Volcanoville home with her husband Clifford, said they left their residence a little bit earlier in the day. Still, she described the whole ordeal as a blur.
“Horrible. Sad,” Judy Habig said. “We didn’t cry or panic. We were in shock. You just go like a robot.”
Mandatory evacuations expanded into Georgetown in El Dorado County and the community of Todd Valley in Placer County on Thursday.
Evacuation warnings for issued for the El Dorado County communities of Cool, Pilot Hill Garden Valley and Kelsey, along with the surrounding areas. With evacuation warnings, you are not lawfully required to leave but are recommended to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice in case fire behavior becomes threatening.
Some homes destroyed in the Mosquito Fire
The fire burned through the area of Michigan Bluff Road near High Street Wednesday afternoon, destroying some homes.
Cal Fire has not yet confirmed how many structures may have burned.
PG&E files incident report to CPUC
It’s still unclear how the Mosquito Fire started. However, PG&E filed a report with the state’s public utility commission for a pole near where the fire started.
The U.S. Forest Service had placed “caution tape around the base of a PG&E transmission pole” the report said on Thursday. “Thus far, PG&E has observed no damage or abnormal conditions to the pole or our facilities near Oxbow Reservoir, has not observed down conductor in the area or any vegetation related issues.”
PG&E is investigating.
Here’s a look at the current air quality in Northern California
Smoke from the Mosquito Fire burning in Placer and El Dorado counties will continue to impact areas across the Sacramento region on Monday, according to Spare the Air. The Sacramento Metropolitan, El Dorado, Feather River, Placer and Yolo-Solano air districts forecast unhealthy air quality for the region that will range from moderate to hazardous.
| MORE | Sacramento region’s air quality impacted by unhealthy smoke from the Mosquito Fire
www.kcra.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism