Northern California is having its driest February since 1864, making conditions ideal for wildfires. That's why firefighters have been working to minimize the blow one could bring to an area near Colfax.
For 10 months the crews, led by Cal Fire, have been working to create a shaded fuel break — cutting, chipping, burning and clearing dangerous vegetation in Placer County’s North Fork American Canyon that could add fuel to a wildfire.
Cal Fire Captain Justin Kimbrell said they chose the area because of its wildfire history. Kimbrell said the project was first conceived nearly a decade ago and has come to fruition because of support from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"It's going to slow down the fire that may start in here," Kimbrell said. "It gives firefighters an opportunity to come in here and actually slow it down, put it out and actually extinguish this fire."
Kimbrell said nearly the entire canyon used to have dry brush around most of the trees and large rocks.