With the sale of “Safe and Sane” fireworks beginning on Tuesday in nearly 300 communities across California, Cal Fire is reminding everyone to do their part to prevent fires caused by fireworks this July 4.

Over the past five years, more than 2,500 structure and wildfires have been sparked by fireworks, burning thousands of acres, causing countless injuries and costing millions in property loss.

“Illegal fireworks, or even the unsafe use of 'Sane and Sane' fireworks, are a major problem every year,” said Chief Tonya Hoover, California’s state fire marshal. “We have a zero tolerance towards the possession, sale or use of illegal fireworks and our officers will be patrolling the streets and Internet this week.”

Fire and law enforcement officers across the State are working together to confiscate illegal fireworks off the streets.

Earlier this month, Cal Fire joined a multi-agency fireworks seizure operation in San Bernardino County.

The operation resulted in the confiscation of 25,406 pounds of illegal fireworks, 51 misdemeanor citations were issued, as well as two felony arrests.

In Placer County, a similar multi-agency operation occurred at the agricultural inspection station in Truckee. More than 1,882 pounds of fireworks were confiscated resulting in 20 misdemeanor citations and seven felony arrests.

“Wildfire activity has significantly increased during the last several weeks and California continues to experience explosive fire conditions as a result of five years of drought," said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. "Everyone needs to understand the dangers associated with the use of illegal fireworks or misuse of legal fireworks. Any person who starts a fire from fireworks – even accidentally – can be held liable for the fire-fighting costs as well as property damage costs.”

The State Fire Marshal-approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks are allowed for use in many communities; however, they are not approved state-wide. Before purchasing these types of fireworks, be sure to check your local laws and follow the instructions to avoid accidents and injuries.

Here are a few tips to help you be safe this July 4:

• If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
• Buy only State Fire Marshal-approved (Safe and Sane) fireworks.
• Have a bucket of water and a hose handy.
• Always read directions and have an adult present.
• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Parents are liable for any damage or injuries caused by their children using fireworks.
• Use common sense and keep a safe distance.
• Never attempt to re-light or “fix” fireworks.

Visit www.ReadyforWildfire.org for tips on how to prevent a wildfire this July 4.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Containment continues to increase on the Reservoir fire burning near the Indian Valley Reservoir.

The Reservoir fire, which began Sunday afternoon seven miles southwest of Leesville, remains at 215 acres, with containment up to 60 percent, according to Cal Fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials said.

Cal Fire said fire crews worked steadily through the night, establishing containment lines around the south part of the fire.

More than 350 personnel remained committed to the fire as of Tuesday morning, along with 25 engines, 14 hand crews, seven bulldozers, two water tenders and two helicopters, Cal Fire reported.

There have been no reports of injuries or property destroyed, based on Cal Fire's report.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that an initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use has qualified for the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

In order to become eligible for the ballot, the initiative needed 365,880 valid petition signatures, which is equal to 5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2014 General Election, Padilla's office reported.

An initiative can qualify via random sampling of petition signatures if the sampling projects a number of valid signatures greater than 110 percent of the required number, officials said.

The initiative needed at least 402,468 projected valid signatures to qualify by random sampling, and it exceeded that threshold on Tuesday.

The initiative was cleared for circulation in January and had 180 days – or until July 5 – to gather the necessary signatures.

On June 30 Padilla will certify the initiative as qualified for the Nov. 8 General Election ballot, unless the proponent withdraws the initiative prior to that date pursuant to Elections Code section 9604(b).

The proponents of this initiative are Donald Lyman and Michael Sutton.

The California Attorney General's Office official title and summary of the initiative is as follows:

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Legalizes marijuana and hemp under state law. Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry. Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15% of sales price, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana from some taxation. Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors. Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Net reduced costs ranging from tens of millions of dollars to potentially exceeding $100 million annually to state and local governments related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Net additional state and local tax revenues potentially ranging from the high hundreds of millions of dollars to over $1 billion annually related to the production and sale of marijuana. Most of these funds would be required to be spent for specific purposes such as substance use disorder education, prevention, and treatment. (15-0103.)

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Gov. Jerry Brown has reappointed six of the Lake County Fair Board's current seven members, but the fair's chief executive officer said two more spots still need to be filled.

The Governor's Office said that Brown reappointed to the 49th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors Janeane Bogner of Clearlake Oaks, Marcia Chauvin of Clearlake, James “Sham” Cochrane of Kelseyville, Annette Hopkins of Lakeport, Meyokeeskow “Meyo” Marrufo of Upper Lake and Jerry McQueen of Lakeport.

The positions do not have compensation, and do not require state Senate confirmation, the Governor's Office reported.

The announcement came about a month and a half after Brown appointed new fair board member Katherine “Kat” McDowell, as Lake County News has reported.

Lake County Fair Chief Executive Officer Debbie Strickler said the six reappointees had been waiting, in some cases, for several years for the reappointments to come through.

Prior to McDowell, Marrufo had been the most recent appointee in January 2015, Strickler said.

Bogner, 61, owns Weed Tech with husband Ronnie and has served on the fair board since 1992. She's a member of organizations including the Lake County Farm Bureau, Chapter 23 North of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association.

Chauvin, 77, has worked with Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, owned a local business and has experience in agriculture including being assistant controller and office manager at Maggio Farms from 1979 to 1982. She's been on the fair board since 2007.

Cochrane, 65, has been on the board since 2002. He's a retired local administrator and teacher, having worked for the Kelseyville and Konocti school districts. Cochrane is a member of the American Counseling Association, California Teachers Association and the National Educators Association.

Hopkins, 69, also has served on the fair board since 2002. She is Lake County's former regional manager at the United Way of Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties from 2000 to 2004, and is a member of the Lake County California Women for Agriculture, Soper Reese Community Theater Fundraising Committee and Friends of Marymount California University Lakeside.

Marrufo, 44, has served on the fair board since 2007. She has been director at Guidiville Indian Rancheria since 2014, and formerly held environmental director positions with the Hopland and Robinson tribes. She formerly was director of National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program from 2000 to 2004, and is the central California representative for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Tribal Operations Committee.

McDowell, 49, of Cobb is an independent real estate broker and communications director at the Middletown Sports Boosters Club. She came on board in May.

McQueen, 70, has served on the fair board since 1998. He and wife Mary Ann own Northport Trailer Resort and he formerly was a technician for General Electric from 1973 to 1988. McQueen is a member of groups including the Lakeport Elks Lodge, Rotary Club of Lakeport and the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association.

The seven sitting board members' terms are good through Jan. 15 of the following years, Strickler said: Bogner, 2020; Chauvin, 2017; Cochrane, 2018; Hopkins, 2019; Marrufo, 2019; McDowell, 2010; and McQueen, 2018.

Meantime, Strickler said the nine-member board still needs two more appointees.

She said she's not received any indication that additional applications are still awaiting consideration.

Anyone who loves the fair and has time and energy to devote to its activities is encouraged to apply, said Strickler.

The Lake County Fair takes place on Labor Day weekend, with the grounds at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport hosting events year-round.

The fair board typically meets once a month on a Monday afternoon in the administration office at the fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport. Strickler said meeting times are flexible to allow for members' scheduled.

She encouraged anyone interested in serving on the fair board to go to the governor's appointment page at https://www.gov.ca.gov/m_appointments.php and submit an application, and to call her for more information at the fair office, 707-263-6181.

Visit the Lake County Fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com .

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Northshore Community Center is welcoming a new executive director.

The organization reported that Nathan Maxman has been hired to fill the role, effective July 1.

Maxman succeeds Rae Eby-Carl, who has led the center – formerly named the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center – since March 2013.

The board of directors reported that it worked hard to recruit a competent, enthusiastic and dedicated person to step into the role of executive director. 

The nonprofit center serves the Northshore's families and senior populations with on-site lunches, Meals on Wheels, personal advocacy, activities, food pantry and other services.

Maxman is a member of the first graduating class at Marymount California University's Lakeside Campus in Lucerne.

In May received his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in business with a concentration in accounting. 

His experience includes bookkeeping for a Lakeport church and volunteering for many social service organizations. 

Maxman understands business operations as well as maintaining and developing budgets, and the center board believes his fiscal experience will be a great benefit to the center.

In addition, Maxman is very familiar with services for the senior populations of Lake County and looks forward to becoming familiar with those on the Northshore.

He has worked with volunteers and looks forward to generating more to help the center provide its services.

Maxman and Eby-Carl have been involved in orientation and information exchange for a week.

Eby-Carl, who retires June 30, said she is “leaving the center in very good hands with Mr. Maxman in charge and a full board of nine directors to support him.”

The Northshore Community Center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-8779.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters are closing in on full containment on a wildland fire burning since Sunday northeast of Clearlake Oaks.

The Reservoir fire was reported to be at 75-percent containment early Tuesday evening.

Cal Fire said firefighters have continued to hold the blaze at 215 acres.

It has burned in oak grass woodland and heavy brush between the water's edge at the Indian Valley Reservoir and Hough Springs, along Bartlett Springs Road.

Cal Fire said fire crews continued to work steadily through the day on Tuesday, establishing containment lines around the south part of the fire.

The agency said no structures have been threatened, damaged or destroyed.

Cal Fire continues to keep a large amount of resources on scene, including 25 engine companies, 14 fire crews, seven bulldozers, two water tenders, two helicopters, 25 overhead or chief personnel, and more than 350 firefighters.

There has been no update on a possible cause, which Cal Fire said remains under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week “Mildred,” “Nala” and “Spike” are waiting at Clearlake Animal Control to meet their new families.

This week's featured dogs include mixes of American Staffordshire Terrier, Labrador Retriever and pit bull.

To meet the animals, contact Marcia Taylor, the animal control outreach technician, at 707-994-8201, Extension 103, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or contact Animal Control Officer Jenna Tuller at Extension 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. those same days or leave a message on Fridays or weekends.

Also follow Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook for the latest updates.

Below are this week's available dogs.

'Mildred'

“Mildred” is a young female Labrador Retriever mix.

She has a short black coat with white markings on her chest and toes.

Shelter staff said Mildred is a “simply wonderful” and cute girl who likes to have fun.

'Nala'

“Nala” is a young American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short white coat and brown markings.

“Nala is just a sweet little girl that her owner didn't want anymore. She doesn't understand why. What she needs is someone to just love her,” shelter staff reported.

Her new family will find that she's already spayed and microchipped, and ready for her new life.

'Spike'

“Spike” is a handsome young American Pit Bull looking for a loving home.

He's got a short gray coat with white markings on his face, chest and feet.

He is friendly with people, other dogs and cats, shelter staff reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire reported that firefighters have fully contained a wildland fire near the Indian Valley Reservoir.

The 215-acre Reservoir fire reached 100-percent containment on Tuesday night, Cal Fire said.

That update came after a report earlier in the evening that had put the fire's containment level at 75 percent, as Lake County News has reported.

Cal Fire said the fire began on Sunday evening seven miles southwest of Leesville, between the Indian Valley Reservoir and Hough Springs, along Bartlett Springs Road.

Fire officials confirmed that the blaze was spotted by volunteers at the Mount Konocti fire lookout tower, which is once again being staffed during daytime hours.

No cause has yet been given for the fire, which Cal Fire said did not damage any structures.

The Reservoir fire is the largest incident so far in Lake County's summer fire season.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Divers have recovered the body of a Palo Alto man who became the fourth person to die in a water-related incident in Lake County in the past month after he fell into the lake at Clear Lake State Park over the weekend.

The body of Caldwell Joseph Pitre, 59, of Palo Alto was found on Monday morning, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks said deputies responded to the Clear Lake State Park Marina in Kelseyville at approximately 8:12 p.m. Sunday on the report of a male subject who had reportedly fallen into the water and not surfaced.  

Brooks said Central Dispatch advised that people had witnessed Pitre fall from his boat – which was next to the docks – into the water, and that several people who saw the fall were in the water trying to locate Pitre.

Witnesses said they saw Pitre pull into the dock area of the marina just as it was starting to get dark.  They noticed Pitre leaning over the side of his boat; he appeared to be tying the boat to the dock when he slipped and fell into the water, Brooks said.

Pitre was reported to have surfaced a couple of times and yelled for help. As several people attempted to help Pitre, he disappeared below the surface and they could not locate him, Brooks said.

Deputies from both patrol and the marine unit responded to the area and started searching for Pitre. Brooks said Clear Lake State Park rangers also responded and assisted with the search.  

The Northshore Dive Team responded to the scene and searched the area around the dock where Pitre was last seen. Brooks said the divers also searched areas where the marine deputies had obtained images of unknown objects with their side scan sonar.

Deputies and park rangers searched the area of the marina using side scan sonar until approximately 1:45 Monday, when they were forced to scale back the search due to exhausting all of the current resources, in addition to the poor visibility and lack of light, Brooks said.

Brooks said the search resumed at approximately 7:45 a.m. Monday, with deputies using their side scan sonar.  

At approximately 11 a.m. Monday deputies were able to locate and mark an unknown object and requested the Northshore Dive Team, he said.

Brooks said that approximately 15 minutes later divers located Pitre and recovered his body from the water.

Pitre’s cause of death is pending autopsy results, Brooks said.

Pitre's death is the fourth in less than a month involving Clear Lake, as Lake County News has reported.

On May 28, 74-year-old James Michael Leale of San Jose and Clearlake Park disappeared into the lake near Anderson Island and Vacation Island following a boating accident, with divers later recovering his body.

Walter Patrick Hoertkorn, 69, of Kelseyville, died while swimming in the lake near Kelseyville on June 2.

Michael Eugene Haberski, 59, of Sebastopol fell from his sailboat into Konocti Bay on the evening of June 7.

Brooks confirmed to Lake County News on Tuesday that autopsies have confirmed that drowning was the primary cause of death for Leale, Hoertkorn and Haberski.