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Northern California blaze grows to 34,000 acres, still has no containment

by Ryan Lillis, Sacramento Bee |

Northern California's Mosquito Fire grew overnight Friday into Saturday as it continues to tear through the rugged foothills of Placer and El Dorado counties, threatening more than 3,000 homes.

The blaze is now estimated at 33,754 acres, an increase of roughly 4,000 acres since the day before, Cal Fire said Saturday morning. The fire is threatening nearly 5,900 structures in Foresthill, Volcanoville, Georgetown and other settlements in the Sierra foothills.

The fire, which started Tuesday evening near the Oxbow Reservoir in Placer County, still has no containment, according to Cal Fire.

Several communities remain under evacuation orders, including Foresthill, Georgetown, Todd Valley, Volcanoville and Michigan Bluff. The El Dorado National Forest Twitter account reported Saturday that 11,117 people have been evacuated.

An estimated 1,700 fire personnel are battling the blaze. Officials have not determined the cause, Cal Fire said.

Fire officials have said structures have been destroyed in Volcanoville. There are also reports of damage in Foresthill.