A new wildfire ignited northeast of Placerville early Wednesday, prompting evacuation warnings for communities in El Dorado County.
The Crozier fire started at 1:21 a.m. on the northwest side of Slate Mountain, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It had burned 182 hectares with no known containment by 10am
The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
The The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders and warnings for residences in the Mosquito/Swansboro communities around 2 a.m
The evacuation order was issued for neighborhoods located north and northeast from Mosquito Airport to the fire line.
Evacuation warning zones — meaning there is imminent danger to life and property and an order to leave may follow — have been expanded in recent hours to include areas north of Quintet and south of the evacuation order zone, east along Highway 193 and north along Wentworth Springs Road.
The community of Volcanoville is also under one evacuation warningaccording to the sheriff’s office.
Residents can control Perimetermap.com for more information on evacuation areas.
For residents who are displaced, there is a temporary evacuation site at the Placerville Library, located at 345 Fair Lane.
El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter, at 6435 Capitol Ave. in Diamond Springs, will be open to house animals displaced by the evacuation order. If no one answers the door, call (530) 621-5795.
The Crozier fire is the latest fire in an already explosive fire season. Wildfires have burned more than 798,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 1,100 structures across the country this year, according to Cal Fire.