YOUR OWN CONSUMER FIREWORK DISPLAY

SPECIAL DISCLAIMER: It would be impossible for me to cover every aspect of every possible kind of consumer firework and firework display in this page. These are suggestions to make your display a safer and better one. It is YOUR responsibility to determine the usability and advisability of any and all information I have provided on my web site. This information assumes the fireworks will be fired by an adult or with proper adult supervision, in accordance with all laws in your area.

When I get sufficient inquiries on something about fireworks, I try to provide a web page for that information. This page is going to assume that you live in a location where consumer fireworks are legal and available. If that's not true where you live, I'm sorry about that. Start writing your legislators and tell them you want fireworks legal in your county, state, country or wherever.

Consumer fireworks are much safer now, and more exciting than perhaps they have ever been. You have decided you want to put on a firework display for you family and friends for some special occasion. In the United States our big fireworks day is July 4, our Independence Day. In the UK it is November 5, Guy Fawkes Day. Every country has special dates that have fireworks connected with them, but almost any time is a good time for fireworks, right?

I'm going to give you some suggestions about how the pros prepare for a display. They are all applicable whether it's for a huge professional spectacular, or the kind of smaller consumer firework show you have in mind. Remember, what should be foremost in your mind at all times is SAFETY. Don't spoil your event by being careless. Keeping fireworks legal requires that we use them carefully and safely.

STEP 1: CHOOSING THE SITE FOR YOUR DISPLAY

Professional displays require developing a written site plan and survey. You should at least make a mental one. There are three physical areas you need to consider the suitability for:

1. The Spectator Area: Spectators should be a safe distance away from where the fireworks will be fired and where the fireworks will "travel". For small ground fireworks, such as fountains and wheels, many countries require keeping the spectators at least 16 feet (5 meters) away. For display and aerial fireworks, 80 feet (25 meters) is the minimum. Spectators should be upwind from the fireworks so sparks do not blow in their direction. It is advisable to tell your audience they must stay behind a marker stake or other item you have provided to define the front of the spectator area.

2. The Firing Area: The display area should be level ground, free of dry grass, brush or other combustible material. Obstacles that might be tripped over in the dark while firing the display should be removed, if possible. There should be no houses or other buildings in the immediate area. Certainly your display should NOT be conducted near a hospital, nursing home or other facility like that.

3. The Fallout Area: This is the area where the spent aerial fireworks will fall back to the ground. That area is larger than the display area, much larger. It too must be free of things that can burn, and there should be no spectators there. Again, no buildings in that area either.

STEP 2: CHOOSING YOUR FIREWORKS

If the display is confined to a small space, then only ground fireworks should be used. There are many varieties of fountains, wheels and novelty items that can provide a lot of fun. If you have plenty of room and can do so safely, then by all means use the full variety of fireworks available to you. Aerial fireworks come in the following general categories:

1. Roman candles

2. Multi-shot repeaters (called "cakes" in some places)

3. Rockets

4. Single tube shells, comets and mines

5. Reloadable shells kits (usually with 6 or 12 shells and one mortar to fire them from)

6. Helicopters (winged fireworks)

7. Finned missiles

Some of these categories may not be legal in your area. Examples of all of these, and some cone-shaped and tube-shaped fountains can be see in the photo below.

STEP 3: HOW MANY FIREWORKS DO YOU NEED?

I will assume you are able to use a full range of aerial fireworks. One way to pace a display and provide plenty of variety is to fire your display in ROUNDS. A single round might consist of a fountain, three rockets, a Roman candle, a helicopter, a single tube aerial effect and a "cake". That round, on average, might take 2.5 to 3 minutes to fire. Make your own choices as to what fireworks a round will contain. If you want a 30 minute show, then plan on having enough different fireworks for approximately 10 rounds. Try to buy as many different effects as possible, don't fire the same fountain, rocket, cake or other effect again and again.

STEP 4: SAFETY

There are several good firework safety sites on the Internet. Seek them out and follow their recommendations. Click this link to go to my safety page, and it will also link you to some others. Click your return button when finished reading the safety information to come back to this page.  SAFETY PAGE

STEP 5: SETTING UP THE DISPLAY

It is best to do the setup during daylight hours, if possible. Placement of the fireworks should consider how far each individual firework is likely to travel. Ground and low level fireworks are closer to the audience, high flying ones further away. Displays are more delightful if they build in excitement as they go along and finish with some type of noticeable grand finale. Consider firing your larger effects later in the show and finish with something spectacular like the biggest cake you have. The plot plan diagram below might be one you want to consider, it works well for me.

You need a source of water for fire safety purposes. A loaded stream fire extinguisher or two is nice, but most people don't have those. If you are not in a location with a water hose, take several gallons of water (10 to 20 liters) with you in a container that can be easily and quickly poured, if you needed it.

Be mindful of the kind of clothes you wear while firing your fireworks. They should not be easily flammable and the thicker they are and the more they cover, the better personal protection you will have. Safety glasses or safety goggles are a MUST. Inexpensive ones can be found at many hardware stores and are definitely worth it for your eye protection.

Make sure each firer has a good flashlight with fresh batteries to use during the display.

STEP 6: FIRING THE DISPLAY

Hopefully any wind present during the day has died down to almost none by show time. Be aware that the wind could have changed directions before the display. If it does, the position of the fireworks might have to change to insure the spectators are still upwind and the fallout area is downwind. Firing a display in high wind should not be attempted. Be aware that rockets will "weathervane" into a strong wind and could actually fly toward your audience, a real no-no.

It is difficult to light fireworks in any wind with cigarette lighters. Stick type fireworks "punk" lighters are better but not ideal. I use a self-igniting propane torch such as the BernzOmatic Trigger Start 4000. Its 5-inch flame lights with the push of a button and goes out immediately when the button is released. Be advised that it will light most safety fuses very quickly, so be prepared for that.

You might want to have one person light the fountains and other ground items and a second person fire the aerial fireworks. This will reduce the amount of walking, which will make your display have better continuity and less gaps in time.

STEP 7: THE POST-SHOW CLEANUP

When the firework display is over the spectators will probably leave, but you still have important work to do. If any fireworks did not light, give them at least fifteen minutes before approaching them for disposal. Inspect the entire area to make sure there are no fireworks or other things still smoldering. Pour water from your water source on any suspected areas. Don't leave your used fireworks to litter the landscape, which is a complaint some people have about fireworks. Bag up all spent fireworks in double-bagged plastic trash bags. Each 30 gallon (92 liter) double bag can hold about 30 pounds (14 KG) of spent fireworks. It's not a good idea to burn those spent casings to dispose of them, sometimes there are unfired components that would ignite unexpectedly.

If you did everything safely, you had a safe and fun firework show that made your audience very happy.

This page was printed in the September 2001 edition of American Fireworks News.

This page was also printed in Words from the Mound, the newsletter of the Pyrotechnic Artists of Texas.