A fast-moving wildfire in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada foothills has scorched homes and forced evacuations in Chinese Camp, a historic Gold Rush town settled in the 1850s by thousands of Chinese miners driven from a nearby camp. The blaze, one of nearly two dozen fires sparked by numerous lightning strikes, has burned about 19 square miles across Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties.
Chinese Camp, once a bustling stagecoach stop and mining supply hub, holds significant historical value with some remaining 19th-century structures, including an old post office and a shuttered Catholic church. It’s unclear if these historic buildings have been damaged. At least five homes were destroyed in the fire, which continues to burn without containment.
Local residents initially fought the flames with tree branches and sand before firefighters arrived. The town, now a tourist crossroads en route to Yosemite National Park, has roughly 100 residents who were evacuated for safety. The fire also closed a key highway connecting San Francisco and Yosemite.
Cal Fire officials warn that additional fires may still be undiscovered, and more evacuations could be necessary as high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds fuel the blazes. Damage assessments are ongoing, with no reported injuries so far.
The history of Chinese Camp reflects the broader story of Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush era, who faced harsh discrimination and taxation designed to drive them from mining areas. Although the original Chinese-built structures have long vanished, the town remains an important cultural and historical site, now threatened by the wildfire.
