Firefighters are still constructing and reinforcing control lines around the Mosquito Fire. Crews mopped up and secured their lines when fire activity remained at a modest level. They benefited from lower temps, higher humidity, and the inversion layer being in position for the remainder of the day. Crews attempted to establish control lines all along Foresthill Route from Foresthill to Michigan Bluff and north above Chicken Hawk Road by extensively soaking up hot spots, fire-weakened wood, and burning vegetation deep into the periphery of the wildfire.
These procedures are necessary to keep the fire from crossing control lines and, if firefighters have determined there is no danger of escape, may eventually build barriers. Although the diffuse layer, fire activity persisted along the eastern side of the fire due to the very low fuel humidity in the vegetation. The burn scars from the American and King Fires may be found in the region east of the wildfire. There is still a sizable area of deep, unburned wood between the two that would be particularly amenable to fire activity. Construction crews used heavy machinery to construct indirect control lines to the east of the fire, using preexisting roadways whenever possible. Firefighters are still exploring all options for setting up containment lines near the fire’s perimeter as the landscape and their safety permits.
They are tightening the residual control lines in that region to boost containment further. In contrast, containment lines on the fire’s southern border along Volcanoville Road remain in place. Executing tactical firing actions to help lock in the southwest corner of the brush fire Buckeye Point was among today’s primary goals. The Middle Fork of the American River currently has fire linked onto both sides after crews successfully concluded their fire actions. To maintain control of the southwest corner, firefighters will keep an eye on and fortify those control lines.
Due to the persistent inversion layer over the fire region, there was a restriction on the usage of airplanes. The mid-afternoon hours saw the utilization of many choppers for water-dropping procedures. A CAL FIRE HAWK helicopter is still accessible and used for water-dropping operations at night. The tropical moisture that has existed is expected to leave the area the following day with slightly better southwest winds. Along with allowing for further aircraft use, strong winds are predicted to drive the inversion layer away from the fire area early tomorrow. It may result in increased fire activity.
