Fast-moving wildfire burns homes in historic California Gold Rush town

A lightning-caused wildfire known as the 6-5 Fire rapidly expanded to about 10 square miles (26 sq km) and formed part of the TCU September Lighting Complex, which burned more than 19 square miles (50 sq km) across Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. The blaze forced evacuations of Chinese Camp and surrounding highways. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. At least five homes burned in the rural town, which contains both freestanding and mobile homes. Residents used branches and shovels to try to halt the spread until firefighters arrived. Fire officials requested additional engines, dozers and aircraft. Chinese Camp was settled around 1850 by Chinese miners who had been driven from a nearby camp.

A quick-moving wildfire burned homes in a California Gold Rush town settled around 1850 by Chinese miners who were driven out of a nearby camp and the blaze grew without containment on Wednesday. The fire rapidly expanded to 10 sq miles (26 sq km) in size, forcing the evacuation Tuesday of the Chinese Camp town and surrounding highways, according to CalFire, the state's chief fire agency. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.

At least five homes were burning in the rural town, which has a mix of freestanding and mobile homes. Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand on to the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door. They worked for about 30 minutes until firefighters arrived. An RV on the property was damaged by the fire.

Fire officials have requested additional resources such as fire engines, dozers and an aircraft. The blaze, known as the 6-5 Fire, was caused by lightning, according to CalFire. It is one of more than a dozen blazes that erupted Tuesday across California, according to CalFire. Thousands of Chinese people came to California during the Gold Rush and faced persecution that included an exorbitant Foreign Miners Tax designed to drive them away from mining.

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