Canvas of color covers the sky

Pyrotechnician creates excitement for grand finale with several flashy build-ups

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 28, 2008

What would the Fourth of July weekend be without a good fireworks show?

Organizers of this year’s Fergus Falls show say it’s not to be missed. Residents and visitors have the opportunity to gather and witness one of the state’s best shows, said Pyrotechnician for the event, Erv Haman.

“The Fergus Falls show is the biggest show on this side of Minneapolis,” Haman said.

Haman, who works with RES Specialty Pyrotechnics out of the Twin Cities, says it all comes down to money.

“The budget has a lot to do with the quality of the show,” he said.

For a community like Fergus Falls, the funds for a city fireworks show aren’t included in the city’s annual budget, but rather money community organizers, like Lisa Litt and Ben Schierer, work year-round to raise.

“We sent out letters and hoped people would dig in their pockets and send some money,” Litt said. “Luckily, it worked out this year.”

The community managed to raise about $18,500 for this year’s show.

And according to Haman, that’s enough to put on a real humdinger.

When it comes to the artistic aspects of fireworks show design, there are a number of factors to consider, Haman said.

“Each show is totally different and the show is determined by budget, location — how far away from people you have to be, legally,” Haman said.

And because of these factors, every show has its own unique flare.

“It’s kind of like painting a canvas in the sky,” Haman said.

Haman and six of his crew members are responsible for creating and carrying out the Fergus Falls show. They spend months putting ideas together and ordering the necessary supplies to make it happen.

Haman’s years of experience work to his advantage when it comes to determining the order in which fireworks are set to explode. He knows what colors blend and what the crowd likes best.

The grand finale, he said, is the most exciting to create.

“That’s the one that just makes you forget to breathe,” Haman said.

His goal is to create a show that includes a series of build-ups, which is why he tends to tease the crowd with a mid-show blitz and a pre-finale before the real deal.

When plans are discussed and approved, the team works through a computer system to finalize the order of the show. Even the event itself is run through computers. Fireworks are pre-scripted in the office and downloaded onto the computer’s system. When it comes time for the show, pyrotechnicians do a series of tests, set up equipment and then stand 200 feet away while they light off fireworks by the push of a button.

“That takes some of the dangers out of this,” Haman said.

And while a lot of the danger has been removed from the process, Haman said it doesn’t take away from the excitement of creating and carrying out a Fourth of July fireworks show.

Fireworks:

Fergus Falls

When: Sometime after dark on July 3 between 10 and 10:30 p.m.

Where: Otter Tail County Fairgrounds

Perham

When: July 4 at 10 p.m.

Where: Perham’s Kruegor Field Fairgrounds

New York Mills

When: Sometime after dark July 3, scheduled after 9 p.m.

Where: Smith Park

Where you can buy fireworks:

• BJ’s East

• Fleet Farm-BJ Alan Fireworks

• Kmart-BJ Alan Fireworks

• Pamida

• Sunmart Inside Sales

• Sunmart Outside Sales

• Target

• Walmart-TNT Inside Sales

• Walmart-TNT Outside Sales

Enjoy fireworks safely:

Although officials consider Fergus Falls to be pretty tame when it comes to fireworks safety, Fire Chief Mark Hovland said there are still a few that add unnecessary danger to the holiday.

In order to prevent injuries and disturbances this year, Hovland suggests that residents and guests stick to the laws and follow courteous behavior as to not upset neighbors and pets.

Parents are also advised to monitor childrens’ use of legal fireworks.

Police will be patrolling the Fergus Falls area, confiscating illegal fireworks and issuing fines to those that are not acting in accordance with the law.

Keep fireworks use legal:

While the average citizen isn’t designated to light off the type of fireworks displayed during the city’s show, it doesn’t mean they aren’t allowed to have any fun of their own.

The state of Minnesota has deemed sparklers, cones, tubes that emit sparks, novelty items, snakes and party poppers legal for public use.

Such fireworks may not be used on public property, including parks, alleys and roadways.