Updated at 12:41 p.m. PDT Sept. 14, 2022
In a Wednesday morning briefing on the Mosquito Fire Operations Section Chief Donald Fregulia said the westernmost part of the fire near Foresthill is being lined by fire crews today which should eliminate any further spread near the community. On Tuesday the fire spotted across the Middle Fork of the American River and ran upslope to, but did not cross, Foresthill Road. He did not mention that multiple structures and vehicles were destroyed Tuesday afternoon. However, due to previous work that had been done by property owners and firefighters, many structures were saved.
On the north side Tuesday night, firefighters conducted a defensive firing operation, working north along the Foresthill Divide Road. They reached Deadwood Road and then turned south. The intent is to prevent any further spread to the north in that area.
Mr. Fregullia said the fire had burned 58,544 acres and 3,052 personnel were assigned.
Updated 6:48 a.m. PDT Sept. 14, 2022
The spot fire that ignited across the Middle Fork of the American River below Foresthill, California Tuesday afternoon spread vigorously up the slope toward the community. It reached or came close to Foresthill Road in several places. Multiple structures and vehicles were destroyed across the street from the high school, but it did not cross the road. It could have been worse if not for the efforts of firefighters on the ground and numerous retardant and water drops by air tankers and helicopters.
The FIRIS aircraft mapped the fire at 5 a.m. today and found that it had burned about 61,000 acres.
KCRA, a Sacramento TV station, in recent years has had to cover numerous massive, dangerous wildfires. Their experience shows in the below video that was part of their evening news on Tuesday. Farther down in the article is a Tweet that has almost 90 minutes of the station’s helicopter coverage as the fire was spreading up the slope to Foresthill.
Updated 8:18 p.m. PDT Sept. 13, 2022
The FIRIS aircraft mapped the Mosquito Fire Tuesday evening. Most of the growth was on the east side, but the new spot fire near Foresthill added more than 1,100 acres. The total size increased to 58,000 acres.
To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mosquito Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
It did not spread as rapidly through the fires of 2013 and 2014 as it did in the areas with no recent fire history. But is has spread from 0.5 to 1.0 mile into the footprint of the 2013 American Fire.
Updated 5:35 p.m. PDT Sept. 13, 2022
KCRA has a live view of the Mosquito Fire as it threatens Foresthill, California. It may be in and out, limited by fuel and other factors; or, may be replaying video shot earlier.
MOSQUITO FIRE | LiveCopter 3 has a view of a flare-up shooting up a column of smoke. https://t.co/x31CXkwQiP
— kcranews (@kcranews) September 13, 2022
Below, a 737 from New South Wales drops on the Mosquito Fire near Foresthill, CA.
— Kent Porter (@kentphotos) September 14, 2022
5:19 p.m. PDT Sept. 13, 2022
The activity of the Mosquito Fire at Foresthill, California was subdued Monday due to high humidities in the morning and a few scattered sprinkles. But today, Tuesday, the skies are mostly clear and the humidity has been lower, resulting in multiple convection columns building over the blaze.
At about 2 or 2:30 p.m. a spot fire ignited on the western-most part of the fire south-southwest of Foresthill near the Middle Fork of the American River. It grew very quickly and was soon mapped by the FIRIS aircraft at 93 acres. Then the spot fire created another spot fire uphill and to the north, closer to Foresthill. Air tankers and helicopters were seen by the Foresthill camera working on the spots, but by 3:30 p.m. they had merged into one 300-acre spot fire spreading toward Foresthill.
At about 4:10 p.m. radio traffic indicated that the spot fire was close to reaching the area of the Foresthill Divide school.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
6:15 pm, PDST. Something I have never seen before: All four of 10 Tanker’s DC-10s are currently on the Mosquito Fire in an attempt to save Foresthill and Todd Valley. Tanker 914 just flew in from Moses Lake, WA. Tankers 910, 911 and 912 have been here since mid-afternoon.
Everyone gets the same FIRIS data, but Bill makes the most useful graphics out of it. Thank you!
Thanks Doug!