A fast-moving wildfire ignited by lightning has destroyed multiple structures in Chinese Camp, a historic Gold Rush town in northern California, authorities said. The blaze, part of the TCU September Lightning Complex, broke out on Tuesday and had spread across more than 13,700 acres by Thursday morning, with only 15% containment.
Chinese Camp, located about 57 miles east of Stockton, was settled around 1850 by Chinese miners and is a registered California landmark. The town, home to roughly 60 residents, features several Gold Rush-era structures, including an 1854 post office and an 1855 Catholic church. While the church and general store appeared to have survived, footage showed buildings leveled and engulfed in flames, with some lots reduced to charred brick walls and scorched trees.
No injuries have been reported, but at least five homes have burned, and damage assessments are ongoing. The fire has jumped highways 120 and 49, and officials warn that more evacuations may be necessary as temperatures are expected to reach the 90s with strong winds and little rain.
California Governor Gavin Newsom secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support fire-suppression efforts and pre-deployed resources to five counties. The TCU September Lightning Complex is one of more than a dozen wildfires burning across the state, with months left before high-risk conditions subside.
Chinese Camp flourished in the 1850s as a stagecoach stop and supply hub during the Gold Rush, attracting thousands of Chinese immigrants who faced persecution. Stephen Provost, author of a book on the town, said, 'When a historic building burns, it’s a piece of history we lose. When a whole town like that goes – I mean, wow … It’s just devastating.'
