Thanks to American Legion Sotoyome Post 111 for a great fireworks show! sotoyomepost111.org

Article?

Why do you need an article?

I was there. What do you need to know?

Here is a link : Link

yes, it was a great show. best in the county.

link includes a nice photo.

but here is the text, just in case you have trouble with the link:



A small fire broke out Saturday night during a fireworks display in Healdsburg, temporarily stopping the show.

More Photos:
Your Fireworks Pix, July 2009
Flaming debris, apparently from a pyrotechnic device used in the show, ignited a small pile of vegetation on the Healdsburg High School campus at about 9:50 p.m., police Officer Steve Cox said.

Firefighters overseeing the event, which was staged at the school, put it out within minutes, Cox said.

It was unclear if the fire caused any damage to buildings or other school property.

Cox said turnout for the city’s annual display was in the thousands.

Among the revelers was Gail Otteson of Windsor, who was with her husband Robert near the baseball diamond.

Otteson said she saw sparks fall near the debris pile and start the blaze. She and others yelled to firefighters, who dispatched it quickly.

She worried high winds might start other fires.

“We got a little more excitement than we expected,” Otteson said.

—Paul Payne

So was I; one block away; didn't know what the delay was; agree re: the show.
Fabulous!

Yes, there is no doubt that the American Legion fireworks shows are getting bigger, and better every year. But, what has happened to the low level ground based pyrotechnics? Completely gone in favor of those spectacular MASSIVE shells. Am I the only one that has noticed the houses to the north with shake roofs? I've witnessed numerous shell casings hit the ground still flaming. It they keep cranking up the high aerial shots, it is only a matter of time until a catastrophe happens.

Hi folks

I'm glad you all enjoyed the show and pleased as punch that it seems bigger and better each year.

Just to clarify, the show's been pretty much at the same budget over the last 5 - 6 years. Its just that I take about 40 hours each year to re-choreograph the show and its finale to make it different from the previous shows. I am not aware of any other Pyrotechnician that takes this time for a handfired show. My producer at PyroSpectaculars is always kidding me about how he will never sell a music choreo'd show as long as I'm around to shoot Windsor and H-Town. These two towns are my local communities and despite their rivalries I love both shows and give them my all. I have lived in Hbg for about 35 years and was thrilled when their show was finally assigned to me about 10 years ago.

To address one of your concerns the size of the field dictates maximum shell size under NFPA guidelines. I cannot not shoot anything larger than 5" nor would I feel comfortable about doing so. My teaser rounds prior to the show's opening are used to confirm fallout within my safety perimeter. This year with the meteorology as different as it was (fog breeze from the south) I even fired a troika of 5" shells as a teaser to test my outer boundaries. Had I not been comfortable with the results we would have been left with two options 1) wait for the wind to die down later into the evening or 2) reschedule the show and tear it all down, live shells and all. Now that is not a fun thing at all and very dangerous.

With repsect to the fire the small brush pile that caught on fire was within that safety perimeter. The fire truck assigned to me for the show was within 50 yards of the pile and the crew responded promptly and efficiently.

I have to say I am a bit perplexed about garynowi's comment about the low level show "Completely gone..." ??? We had about 3 times the cakes this year from last year all to boost the low level aspect. I used two midshow events of low level and then kicked opened the finale door with 8 more. Maybe gary just wasnt in a good spot to see them. Hopefully budget willing I'll have the same number next year and he'll get a better view. I really like the 150 Shot Happy Stars and the 3" RWB cannonade was great!

Respectfully Submitted
Chief Powder Monkey
Powder Monkey Productions
AIM HbgPyro