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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Dani Anguiano

A California Gold Rush town was like ‘going back in time’. Then came a wildfire

a burned out building
A destroyed building in Chinese Camp, California, on 3 September 2025. Photograph: Noah Berger/AP

Shortly after lightning sparked dozens of wildfires in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills this week, author Stephen Provost received news that devastated him.

Fire was sweeping through Chinese Camp, a Gold Rush-era town that a group of Chinese miners founded in the 19th century after they were driven out of a nearby settlement. The town’s almost 100 residents were forced to evacuate and news reports showed flames consuming historic buildings.

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