Lightning-Sparked Wildfires Scorch Gold Rush Towns, Force Wide Evacuations California

A series of lightning-sparked wildfires, known as the TCU September Lightning Complex, have rapidly spread across Northern California’s Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, engulfing nearly 12,000 acres and prompting extensive evacuation orders, including the entire historic town of Chinese Camp. The 6-5 Fire, part of this complex, has destroyed multiple homes and buildings in Chinese Camp, a Gold Rush-era settlement originally established by Chinese miners, with no reported injuries or fatalities so far. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blazes, which remain at 0% containment amid ongoing dry lightning and erratic winds, while additional resources such as engines, bulldozers, and aircraft have been requested. Evacuation shelters have been set up for displaced residents and their pets, with facilities to accommodate livestock as well. Other large wildfires, including the Garnet Fire in Sierra National Forest, are also burning thousands of acres in California, fueled by continued thunderstorms and challenging weather conditions. These fires highlight the increasing wildfire threats in the region during severe weather events, threatening both natural landscapes and historic communities.