A firefighter works to control the 6-5 Fire burning through Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County, California, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. AP Photo
A fast-moving wildfire in Northern California has destroyed homes in Chinese Camp, a small Gold Rush town with deep historic roots. The fire began Tuesday in the Sierra Nevada foothills and quickly spread, forcing the evacuation of about 100 residents. Authorities closed a highway that connects San Francisco to Yosemite National Park as flames continued to advance.
The town, once home to thousands of Chinese miners in the 1850s, holds rare structures from that era. It’s still unclear if landmarks like the 1854 post office survived. A Catholic church from 1855 appeared untouched, while the general store also seemed safe. But many properties were reduced to rubble, with only brick walls and burned trees left behind.
Lightning sparks widespread fires
The blaze is one of 22 wildfires set off by lightning early Tuesday across Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties. Combined, they have scorched nearly 19 square miles. Authorities confirmed that several homes were destroyed, though no injuries have been reported.
Emily Kilgore, spokesperson for California’s fire agency, said many fires are burning in rugged terrain that’s difficult to reach. “There still may be fires that haven’t been discovered yet,” she warned, adding that more evacuations could come. Forecasts predict high temperatures and little rain, making containment efforts harder. Strong winds are also pushing flames through dry grass and brush, worsening the danger.
Residents fight to save homes
At least five homes burned near Chinese Camp as the fire crossed 10 square miles. Residents tried to slow the flames themselves, using shovels and tree branches until firefighters arrived. One recreational vehicle was also damaged.
For tourists, Chinese Camp serves as a crossroads on the way to Yosemite. But for historians, it’s a place of cultural memory. In the mid-1800s, thousands of Chinese miners settled there after being driven out of nearby camps by European miners. They faced harsh discrimination, including a heavy Foreign Miners Tax. The town became known as Chinese Camp, a hub for stagecoaches and miners alike.
By the early 1920s, the last Chinese families had left, but remnants of the Gold Rush era endured. Writer Stephen Provost, who documented the town’s history, said structures like saloons, a boarding house, and homes built by European settlers still stood. “It was like a town that had been trapped in time,” he recalled.
Now, he fears much of that history may be lost. “These are places that are personal to our hearts,” he said.
