A CalFire patrol crew took this photo of the Mosquito Fire burning on Tuesday night.
A fire burning just under 50 miles due west of Carson Valley is growing quickly in the hot conditions near Oxbow Reservoir on the Sierra’s West Slope.
The Mosquito Fire is officially 1,203 acres, though satellite mapping is showing hotspots across a region three times that size could be affected.
The fire was first reported 6:27 p.m. Tuesday and is zero percent contained. It’s burning in brush and timber in steep and inaccessible terrain, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuations are in effect for the fire which is on the county line of El Dorado and Placer counties in California.
Around 250 firefighters, including 20 engines, 11 dozers, two water tenders, in addition to aircraft are battling the blaze.
No cause has been reported for the fire, though thunderstorms rumbled through the region on Tuesday afternoon. The Carson Valley forecast for Wednesday includes west winds 5-10 mph with a chance of showers or thunderstorms. Winds will pick up this evening to 10-15 mph before dying down around midnight, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. On Wednesday morning, fire.airnow.gov indicated good air conditions in Carson Valley.
