Living in California’s beautiful, golden foothills comes with a risk the residents of Auburn are well aware of.
"Fire danger is certainly something that's very real. So, you got to think about it," said Auburn resident Calvin Armstrong.
The city of 14,000 people is surrounded by dry grass and hillsides. Yet, the Auburn City Fire Department has only one fire station staffed full-time.
"We're well staffed with equipment. We just need people," said Auburn City Fire Chief Dave Spencer.
Spencer went before the city council with a fire safety plan.
"We need an aggressive plan to try to keep the community safe," he said.
It includes the hiring of seven additional firefighters and reopening a station at Auburn Folsom Road and Maidu Drive full-time.
Citizens and council members agreed something needs to be done, especially in this era of increasing wildfire activity and intensity.