Vehicle theft investigators from Tulare to Fresno busted two chop shops and made seven felony arrests during an enforcement operation Monday and Tuesday in south Fresno County and northern Tulare County.

Officers found a chop shop on the 9100 block of West McKinley Avenue and another on the 12200 block of East Manning Avenue in Parlier. Officers also recovered eight stolen vehicles, three handguns and found three illegal marijuana gardens during the two-day operation.

Dove hunting causes many calls to police

The start of dove hunting season shortly before daybreak Tuesday prompted "continual" calls to Fresno County Sheriff's Office dispatchers, and deputies responded to about 12 calls of close gunfire, pellets hitting homes and buildings or trespassing, said Lt. Jeff Johnson.

Legal dove hunting begins 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunset. There is a no-shoot zone around Fresno and Clovis city limits and hunters must be 150 yards away from occupied dwellings.

The two-week dove season ends Sept. 15.

Compressed gas cylinders at fire site

Fresno firefighters extinguished a fire Wednesday in a southwest Fresno building that contained several compressed gas cylinders.

The fire started about 4:30 p.m. and was fueled by propane gas that had vented from the cylinder safety valves, Fresno Fire Chief Chuck Tobias said. None of the cylinders ruptured.

The building had been converted into a residence and was home to six people, none of who were injured in the fire, Tobias said. The flames spread to the grass around the building and to another building on a neighboring property.

Damages to the structures and personal belongings were estimated at $2,500. The fire is being investigated as possible arson, Tobias said.

Labor Day visits to prisons are canceled

Labor Day visits to all California prisons and camps have been canceled due to the state's budget impasse, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The cancellation will save approximately $325,000. Labor Day visits were canceled because the fewest people visit prisoners that day compared with the other four holiday visiting days on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Department of Corrections is seeking to permanently remove Labor Day from the list of state-regulated holiday visiting days.

Monday's cancellation will not affect scheduled family visits, visits to juvenile and contract bed facilities or compassionate hospital, court-mandated or attorney visits.

Proposals to improve forest health taken

The Kern and Tulare Counties Resource Advisory Committee is accepting proposals for projects to improve forest ecosystems, land health and water quality in the Sequoia National Forest and surrounding land, officials said.

The committee will have nearly $100,000 to spend on improvement projects. For application forms and instructions, visit the Sequoia National Forest website at fblinks.com/SNF. Proposals are due Sept. 16.

Habitat for Humanity fundraiser planned

Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County will host a dinner and wine pairing fundraiser event Sept. 9 at the Visalia Marriott Hotel, officials said.

The event starts at 6 p.m., said Deanna Saldana, resource development director for Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County. Tickets are $100 each, and seating is limited to 100 guests.