Wildfire Destroys Homes, Forces Evacuations in Historic California Gold Rush Town

A fast-moving wildfire known as the 6-5 Fire has rapidly expanded to 6.25 square miles in Tuolumne County, California, forcing the evacuation of the historic Chinese Camp Town and nearby highways. The blaze, ignited by lightning, has destroyed at least five homes, including a mix of freestanding and mobile homes, and damaged other property such as an RV. Residents desperately tried to contain the fire before firefighters arrived, moving debris and shoveling sand to protect structures. CalFire has called for additional firefighting resources including engines, bulldozers, and aircraft, but the fire remains uncontained with no injuries reported so far. Chinese Camp, founded around 1850 by Chinese miners who were driven out from nearby camps and subjected to discriminatory taxes, remains at significant risk amid this wildfire emergency. This fire is among more than a dozen wildfires currently burning across California.