Wildfire Devastates Historic California Gold Rush Town, Homes Burn Amid Escalating Blazes

A ferocious wildfire is currently sweeping through Chinese Camp, a historic Gold Rush town in Tuolumne County, California, having already scorched multiple homes. This blaze is one of nearly two dozen fires that erupted across Northern California earlier this week.

The rapidly spreading inferno, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, has prompted the evacuation of Chinese Camp’s approximately 100 residents and forced the closure of a key highway linking San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. Concerns are mounting for the town’s handful of Gold Rush-era structures, including its post office and a Roman Catholic church, though the extent of damage remains unclear.

The devastating wildfires were ignited by numerous lightning strikes early Tuesday, with at least 22 separate blazes now consuming over 19 square miles (50 square kilometers) across Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties, according to Emily Kilgore, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

These fires are scattered across a vast region approximately 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of San Francisco. While no injuries have been reported so far, several structures have been confirmed destroyed in two of the fires, with comprehensive damage assessments still underway.

Many of the blazes are proving challenging for firefighters due to their remote and rugged locations, Kilgore noted, cautioning that additional undiscovered fires may exist and further evacuations could become necessary. The forecast offers little relief, with temperatures expected to remain in the 90s and no significant rain anticipated in the coming days.

The largest single blaze, centered around Chinese Camp, has already consumed approximately 10 square miles (26 square kilometers), with at least five homes—a mix of freestanding and mobile residences—confirmed lost within the town. Eyewitnesses described desperate efforts by residents Tuesday night, with seven individuals attempting to halt the fire’s spread from one home to another by moving branches and shoveling sand before firefighters could arrive. A recreational vehicle on the property sustained damage.

Chinese Camp holds significant historical importance, originating in the 1850s as a vital stagecoach stop and supply hub during the Gold Rush. It became a refuge for thousands of Chinese miners who, facing severe persecution and discriminatory taxes, were driven from other camps. Originally named Camp Washington, the town was renamed to honor its Chinese settlers and now serves as a popular pass-through for tourists heading to Yosemite National Park.

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