Fireworks show at Raley Field must consider fire danger

A near-capacity crowd is expected to witness the fireworks display tonight at Raley Field as the River Cats host the Portland Beavers.

The entertainment company orchestrating the Raley Field display says the show must go on, despite hundreds of wildfires raging in the state, because the fireworks were purchased one to two years in advance.

The company does not carry cancellation insurance, so behind the "booms," "bangs," "oohs" and "aahs" are preparation and attention to regulation.

"It is imperative that we do what we do on the Fourth of July," said Ian Gilfillan, executive vice president of Pyro Spectaculars, based in Rialto, San Bernardino County.

Showy displays of aerial fireworks can do more than light up the sky. During a non-drought year several years ago, a small brush fire along the Sacramento River was caused by a fireworks show for Old Sacramento and Raley Field.

Folsom Pro Rodeo organizers decided to minimize risk this year by canceling their outside firework displays. Rodeo spectators will still be able to enjoy indoor fireworks.

"Absolutely the dryness and drought weighed on that decision," said Sally Howard, director of marketing and media for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce. She said fire marshal regulations also played a role.

Pyro Spectaculars has been working for months to prepare for tonight's Raley Field show as California faced its first official drought since 1991.

The company surveyed the show site to address issues of fencing, wind and grass height. "We just try to anticipate what hazards might exist when we do the show," Gilfillan said.

All surveyors are licensed state pyrotechnic operators. Fireworks technicians must be 21 or older and work under the supervision of a licensed professional on a minimum of eight shows. The technician must also pass a a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives background test and a written exam. These "people are trained specifically for the products they are using," Gilfillan said.

Pyro Spectaculars eliminated potential dangers, made a blueprint of the show and filed for an operating permit with the city. It needed to have proof of commercial general liability insurance, workers' compensation insurance and transportation insurance.

Mike Stewart, fire marshal for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, said the area must be surveyed by firefighters to ensure the proper areas are roped off and there is enough spacing between the crowd and the fireworks.

"That is when we issue the permit," Stewart said.

Pyro Spectaculars has done everything from homecoming football game fireworks to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

It takes from six hours to several days to set up a show, depending on size. In some cases there is roughly $1 million worth of fireworks and fuses to set up.