On Wednesday evening, Robert Nordwall stood watching the Mosquito Fire burn nearby as he hoped the winds would push the flames away from his home in Foresthill.
The Placer County town was placed under evacuation orders Wednesday as the wildfire, showing what firefighters called "extreme fire behavior," moved west toward the community.
"We're ready to go right now," Nordwall said. "We just got to put the dogs and the cat in the car and head out and. Earlier today it was super busy. I mean, there was a line of cars, but we've been waiting."
He said Wednesday evening that the fire seemed to be moving further away from where he was in Foresthill. Nearby, dozens of homes could be seen damaged or destroyed in towns like Michigan Bluff.
The fire started Tuesday evening near Oxbow Reservoir and has grew to more than 5,000 acres with no containment as of Wednesday night, forcing evacuations in both Placer and El Dorado counties.
There is an evacuation map for Placer County available here, and from El Dorado County here. Placer County has issued an air quality advisory through Friday because of the fire. You can find more resources to track the fire here.
CapRadio Visual Journalist Andrew Nixon was at the fire Wednesday and documented the impact of the fire and current efforts to contain it.
A resident who stayed in Foresthill despite an evacuation order due to the Mosquito Fire, takes a picture of the wildfire's plume Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A home is threatened by flames, but is monitored by firefighters on Michigan Bluff Road during the Mosquito Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A structure is destroyed along Michigan Bluff Road during the Mosquito Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
The Mosquito fire burns near Foresthill, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Firefighters battle the Mosquito Fire near Foresthill, Calif. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
The Mosquito fire burns near Foresthill, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Firefighters battle the Mosquito Fire near Foresthill, Calif. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
The Mosquito fire burns near Foresthill, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
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