CAL FIRE Battles Lightning-Sparked 6-5 Fire, Orders Evacuations

SONORA, Calif., Sept. 3, 2025 - A lightning strike ignited the 6-5 Fire on Tuesday morning in Tuolumne County, and by Wednesday the blaze had surged to nearly 3,000 acres, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and air-quality warnings for nearby communities.

At approximately 10:34 a.m. on Sept. 2, CAL FIRE crews responded to flames near Old Don Pedro Road and Big Creek Court, south of Jamestown. By 2:03 p.m., the fire had consumed about 200 acres; by 4 p.m., it had expanded to 2,956 acres and was grouped with adjacent wildfires as the TCU September Lightning Complex.

Evacuation orders were issued for the historic Gold Rush hamlet of Chinese Camp and the community of Keystone, as well as zones along La Grange Road, Old Don Pedro Road, and Sixbit Gulch Road. Residents remain at shelters set up at the Sonora Senior Center. Evacuation warnings are in effect for surrounding areas, where smoke has degraded air quality to unhealthy levels.

CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit reports 0% containment on the 6-5 Fire, with resources focused on structure protection and slowing the fire’s northward advance. Multiple additional engines, hand crews, and aircraft were dispatched overnight to establish fire lines and cool hotspots.

Air districts across Northern California have issued advisories for the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Calaveras counties as smoke drifts into valley communities. Officials urge residents with respiratory conditions to stay indoors, close windows, and run HEPA-filtered air purifiers if available.

CAL FIRE incident commanders say continued dry, windy conditions and rugged terrain will challenge suppression efforts today. Communities under evacuation are reminded to register at shelters and check the CAL FIRE website for real-time updates. Emergency responders warn that more lightning-triggered fires could develop as storm cells move through the region.