Lead
On Sept. 2–3, 2025, a fast-moving wildfire called the 6-5 Fire raced through Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County, California, scorching at least five homes, prompting evacuations and growing to roughly 10 square miles (26 km²) with no containment reported early Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
- The 6-5 Fire expanded rapidly to about 10 square miles (26 km²) in the Chinese Camp area.
- At least five homes were burning; structures include both freestanding and mobile homes.
- Chinese Camp and nearby highways were ordered evacuated; no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
- The blaze is part of the TCU September Lightning Complex, which has burned about 19 square miles (50 km²) across Calaveras and Tuolumne counties.
- Cal Fire reported lightning as the ignition source and requested extra engines, dozers and aircraft.
- Residents attempted emergency firefighting on Tuesday evening, using branches and sand to protect homes until crews arrived.
Verified Facts
Cal Fire identified the blaze as the 6-5 Fire and said lightning sparked the flames. The fire spread quickly through the rural Chinese Camp community on Sept. 2, driven by conditions that allowed rapid movement across vegetation and structures.
By early Wednesday officials estimated the fire’s local footprint at about 10 square miles (26 km²). The larger TCU September Lightning Complex, which includes multiple separate fires in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, had burned roughly 19 square miles (50 km²) with no containment reported at that time.
Emergency crews evacuated Chinese Camp and closed surrounding highways to protect residents and allow firefighting access. Authorities reported no immediate injuries or deaths; damage assessments were ongoing.
Local residents fought to slow the blaze at one property on Tuesday evening, moving tree branches and shoveling sand to prevent flames from spreading until firefighters arrived. An RV on the same property sustained damage.
Context & Impact
Chinese Camp is a Gold Rush-era settlement founded around 1850 by miners who had been driven from a nearby camp. The historic town, about 57 miles (92 km) east of Stockton, contains a mix of older dwellings and mobile homes that can be highly vulnerable to fast-moving fire.
The 6-5 Fire came amid a day of widespread lightning strikes across California that sparked more than a dozen fires, increasing demand for firefighting resources state‑wide.
- Short-term impacts: road closures, displaced residents, immediate housing and shelter needs.
- Medium-term impacts: property loss assessments, utility and infrastructure repairs, and potential insurance claims.
- Longer-term concerns: recovery costs, historic-structure preservation, and local economic effects.
Official Statements
“The blaze was caused by lightning; we have requested additional engines, dozers and aircraft to respond,”
Cal Fire
Unconfirmed
- Precise count of homes destroyed or total structural losses remained incomplete at the time of reporting.
- Final containment percentage and acreage after early Wednesday had not been confirmed.
- Any later injuries or fatalities reported after initial notices were not verified in the early update.
Bottom Line
The 6-5 Fire destroyed and damaged multiple properties in the historic Chinese Camp community after lightning ignited a fast-moving blaze on Sept. 2. Fire managers requested reinforcements as the TCU September Lightning Complex continued to consume acreage across two counties; recovery and damage assessments were expected to follow once containment improves.