“We all agreed that the safety of the community comes first,” said Monica Buehnerkemper, a board member of the Miss Lake County Scholarship Program.
Buehnerkemper said her group and the three others that have the city's approval for the annual sales – Clear Lake High School Boosters Club, Lake County Channel Cats and Terrace School Parent Teacher Organization – came to the decision Friday.
The decision to cancel the fireworks sales – which for the groups is their largest annual fundraiser – resulted when they found out Friday that Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells was planning to speak to the Lakeport City Council this Tuesday about his concerns regarding fireworks sales in what already has proved to be a costly fire season.
“I just want to go on record with the council that Lakeport Fire Protection District does not support the sale or use of safe and sane fireworks within the city,” Wells told Lake County News on Friday.
On Thursday, the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association and Lake County Air Quality Management District issued a statement asking the public to forgo buying safe and sane fireworks this year due to the heightened fire danger. Earlier this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made the same request.
Wells said surrounding counties also have banned fireworks because of fears they can trigger larger fires. In Lake County, safe and sane fireworks can only be purchased and used legally within Lakeport's city limits.
Buehnerkemper said when she and other organization representatives found out about Wells' plan to go to the council, and with most of her board away at the Miss California Pageant, she stepped forward to ask him what they could do.
When Wells suggested they cancel the sales this year, she said she got together with the other groups and, spoke with the fireworks company, and they decided to cancel the fundraiser.
Buehnerkemper said it was important to change the plans right away, because both the fireworks and the booths were due to be delivered on Sunday, with sales scheduled to start on Tuesday, before the council meeting.
She said the groups didn't want to continue with the sale in light of the fire concerns.
The decision garnered the chief's immediate approval. “I'm excited about it,” he said Friday evening.
For the nonprofits who sell the fireworks, it was a costly decision, as each of them easily clears $10,000 in less than a week of sales, said Buehnerkemper.
“It is going to be a major financial hardship for the four organizations,” she said.
For the Miss Lake County Scholarship Program, fireworks sales pay for scholarships for contestants, said Buehnerkemper, while the Terrace School Parent Teacher Organization raises money for education activities.
It's also the main fundraiser for the Clear Lake High School Boosters Club, helping supply money for classroom activities, scholarships and renovating the Snack Shack which sells food at the high school home football games, said Bonnie Bonnett, the club's fireworks coordinator.
Fireworks funds also purchased portable bleachers for the school and paid for upgrading the batting cage, said Bonnett. The club was looking at ways to help with the school's transportation situation, which is being impacted by higher gas prices, she added.
“I think we try to make sure everybody's getting what they need,” she said, with all of the money from the sales going back into the community.
Bonnett also has worked with the Channel Cats, which has used a lot of the money for Westshore Pool improvements.
Preparations for the fireworks sales start in January, said Bonnett, with the nonprofits working with TNT Fireworks on the applications to the city and securing fire marshal approval. They also must have a business license and insurance to sell fireworks.
Many people – including parents and teachers – had signed up to help sell fireworks at the booster club's booth this year. Bonnett was busy on Friday evening calling them to report the change in plans.
“This is the first time this has ever happened,” she said. “We really want to do the right thing.”
She said she's grateful for the city's support of the sales over the years, and hopes they'll be able to resume next year, when there will hopefully be better conditions.
There is already a silver lining appearing for the nonprofits, said Buehnerkemper.
An anonymous donor has pledged to give each of the groups $5,000, she said, and is offering a challenge.
“He is challenging the community to step up and help,” Buehnerkemper said.
She said she and other group representatives will be at the Tuesday City Council meeting, where they won't oppose Wells' stand on fireworks. Instead, they will have a plan for seeking donations from the community.
Buehnerkemper said of the decision to drop the fireworks sales this year, “In the long run it's the right thing to do.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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