News and opinion about wildland fire

It has burned tens of thousands of acres near the community of Foresthill

Updated 9:41 a.m. PDT Sept. 10, 2022

The Mosquito Fire at Foresthill in Northern California was very active again Friday, but did not spread as much as in recent days. That was due to the overnight and morning inversion layer dissipating later than usual and very little wind, ranging from calm to three mph Friday and Friday night. The temperature was 93 degrees and the minimum relative humidity was 21 percent.

The forecast for Saturday is 88 degrees, afternoon winds out of the southwest at 8 mph, 50 percent cloud cover, and 27 percent relative humidity. Sunday should be about the same.

Despite the moderate weather conditions, on Friday there was incremental growth on most of the perimeter except for along Foresthill Road and the area 1 to 5 miles east of Volcanoville. At its widest point the fire is 12 miles long.

The fire was mapped Friday night at 33,753 acres.

The Incident Management Team plans to provide structure defense and point protection for values at risk and protect private timberlands.

The map below shows fires in the National Interagency Fire Center database that have occurred in the area since 1990. It appears possible that under extreme weather and fuel conditions the fire could spread significantly to the east or northeast. The Mosquito Fire about 6 miles from the 2014 King Fire and 28 miles from Lake Tahoe.

Firefighters have been working hard to save structures in the Foresthill area as the Mosquito Fire grows larger. Early unofficial reports say they were successful.

Most of the movement is to the east and southeast, but it has also been spreading west into the community of Foresthill and has moved into El Dorado County. It was mapped at about 11 a.m. Friday at 29,585 acres.  Friday morning the area is thick with heavy smoke, preventing tactical aircraft from flying.

Cameras were able to provide images of the fire into Thursday night until smoke obscured the view.

Fire officials are aware of damage to structures in the Michigan Bluff area, and possibly other locations, and will survey the effects when it can be done safely.

The status of evacuations has changed. Placer County has a map showing evacuation orders and warnings. El Dorado County also has a map.

The blaze exhibited extreme fire behavior Thursday, forming huge rotating convection columns.

15 minute timelapse to 7:55pm with column rotation on #MosquitoFire 9/8/2022 #CAwx @FireWeatherLab @nplareau #firewx https://t.co/L2KVDmTJqv pic.twitter.com/CGrqikn1AJ

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After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. View all posts by Bill Gabbert

Deja Vu. It took 2 weeks for the Caldor fire to run from Grizzly Flats to South Lake Tahoe; West Shore near Homewood watch out! To the 1700 Firefighters on this Mosquito Flats wildfire. Stay Safe.

Thanks again Bill for your work on this site.

military should be brought in sooner the usa should have a national fire fighting teem. Ca. fire fighters are totaly out guned and need to have bigger equipment. A shovel is not going to do it. There was a video of a large brust of fire 7 fire fighters standing next to truck with tools ready to jump on to get out. 8 men with fire hoses would be able to fight back. I think I lost my home Michiganbluff.

I hope your house is still standing.

Here’s an idea use heat seeking “bombs” dropped from bombers using the carpet bombing technique used in WW2.

I would love to see a map with divisions, branches, dozer lines, etc similar to ones they used to post at community grocery stores before social media. Can’t find one on-line.

Here you go- https://yubanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/pio_brief_72X72_land_20220909_2304_Mosquito_CATNF001371_0910day.pdf

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