Pyrotechnic club sees fireworks as a form of art

Don't be fooled Saturday by the sound of fireworks coming from the Burrell Township Rod and Gun Club. It isn't the Fourth of July -- it's members of the PA-Pyrotechnic Artists hosting an open shoot.

A local member, Andrew Niedziela of Homer City, helped organize the shoot, which is open to the public. But if you're planning to attend, don't expect a typical orchestrated fireworks display associated with a festive occasion. Members will be igniting a variety of consumer and display fireworks over a four-hour period, from 5 to 9 p.m., showcasing their own pyrotechnic experiments.

The PA-Pyrotechnic Artists group was founded in 1992 as an outlet for its members to safely and legally enjoy fireworks. A non-profit organization, it was meant to provide a means of sharing pyrotechnic experience and knowledge among its members.

Many members simply have a love of fireworks, but several others actively participate as crew members in public fireworks displays or as lead pyrotechnicians for local display companies.

Members also are able to participate in seminars and presentations. The sessions may be led by someone in the group or by others in the pyrotechnic community, including field agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), which regulates the possession and storage of professional fireworks.

Niedziela estimated club membership is split evenly between professionals and hobbyists.

Niedziela, the associate technical director of Fisher Auditorium at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has always had a zeal for pyrotechnics.

"I always had fireworks of some sort when I was a kid," he said. "I was familiar with it before I came into the club," about a year ago.

Niedziela learned of the club while purchasing some Pennsylvania-legal fireworks in Clearfield County. When the vendor realized he was a serious fireworks buff, she told him about PA-Pyrotechnic Artists.

In order to join the PA-Pyrotechnics Artists, one must gain the approval of two-thirds of the board of directors and must either be recommended by an existing member or provide references.

Before it can hold a shoot, the club must get permits from local municipal officials. For Saturday's shoot, the Black Lick Volunteer Fire Department will be on hand as a safety precaution.

During a show or demonstration, members of PA-Pyrotechnic Artists always err on the side of caution, donning safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats and long-sleeved, flame-resistant shirts.

"In the club, the primary thing we stress is safety," Niedziela said. "We don't like to see people get hurt. We don't like to see people misuse fireworks."

Howard Fry, of Elton, president of the PA-Pyrotechnic Artists, stressed that Saturday's event is not a fireworks show, but a club shoot, where members will get together to share ideas and showcase displays they've assembled. Fry is a lead shooter, and helps choreograph shoots.

The club shoots mostly consumer fireworks, "a lot of things that people have seen in their backyards," Fry said, although some professional versions are included in the mix.

Some members manufacture fireworks of their own, but that requires a special federal license.

Another member, Bernard Murphy of Greensburg, owns Glitter Mountain, a fireworks provider near Donegal.

"About 95 percent of the time, we really don't get too many onlookers," Murphy said. "These shoots aren't designed for spectators. It's more of a meet-and-greet for club members."

That's not to discourage the public from attending, though. Fry noted that the shoot is a great educational outlet for anyone who has an interest in fireworks and how they work.

"If someone has questions, they can come up and ask," Fry said. They can also get information on how to become a member.

A safety line will separate the parking lot, where observers can stand, from the firing range.

Niedziela is expecting between 24 and 30 members Saturday, depending on the weather. A club meeting will be held before members begin lighting fireworks.

Shoots are held several times a year at various locations. Members have gathered in Johnstown, Somerset, Slippery Rock and at area fire companies.

The pace of an open shoot is much more casual than that of a typical fireworks display.

"Putting on a show in and of itself is an art," Niedziela said, noting that is how the club derived its name.

Niedziela has been working on an experiment with Roman candles and plans to bring it for Saturday's shoot.

Consumer fireworks--those defined as producing a visible or audible effect by combustion--can be sold only to in-state residents in possession of a permit issued by the local government body. Out-of-state residents with proper identification also may purchase consumer fireworks. Consumer fireworks used to be referred to as Class C Common fireworks, Murphy noted.

Novelty fireworks--such as sparklers, toy caps or ground devices such as fountains--are not restricted by Pennsylvania law.

To determine if a firework is legal in Pennsylvania, read the description label. If it reads "Emits showers of sparks," it's most likely legal.

If it says "Shoots flaming balls or reports," it will be illegal to set off without a permit. "You're not allowed to have them, you're not allowed to set them off," Fry emphasized.

A permit is needed to light fireworks with a 1.4 G designation or higher, including aerial fireworks or ones that pop. Professional display fireworks require a license through the federal government, and have a 1.3 G designation. These designations, Niedziela explained, are shipping classifications determined by the state Department of Transportation.

An aerial firework is generally made of four parts: the stars, which create the combustion; the shell, in which the stars and black powder are stored; a container, or cylinder that acts as a lifting charge; and an internal fuse, which provides a time delay so the shell explodes at a safe altitude.

On professional fireworks, the shell leader, which is what is lit, is made of "quick match," which burns at a very fast rate of 280 feet per second.

In the vibrant finales that have become a staple in fireworks displays, the quick match of numerous fireworks are tied together to all go off at once.

Shells are launched from a mortar, which acts as a lift-off for the fireworks.

"It's like the gun," Fry said.

According to the The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are three materials that a mortar should be made of: paper, fiber glass or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). All three are designed to not produce shrapnel. The mortar are held in place by an aluminum rack that holds up to 10 tubes.

Consumer products, Fry noted, have no explosive composition, and instead burn energetically. "Safe and sane" fireworks basically emit sparks, Murphy said, and are Pennsylvania legal unless the city or municipality in which they're being set off has passed an ordinance banning them.

The size of the firework corresponds with the size of the shell, which can range in intervals from three inches to 24 inches. Any firework with a shell larger than 12 inches is considered exotic.

The NFPA writes the standards for which all displays are supposed to follow, such as distances. The Consumer Products Safety Commission regulates all consumer fireworks, as to what can and can't be sold to the public.

In Pennsylvania, permits are needed to purchase and shoot non-Pennsylvania legal, in other words, anything that goes up in the air. For professional displays, a license is required to purchase fireworks, and a permit is needed for the display. In order to gain a license, one must have an approved magazine, or storage area to keep the fireworks safe and secure. These storage spaces must be approved by the BATFE.

Fry also leads a permit class, open to anybody age 18 or older. The next one will be held May 3 and 4 in Allentown, but Niedziela is hoping to plan one for this area sometime this year.

The club was founded in 1992 in eastern Pennsylvania. It has over 120 members from Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Members must be 18 years of age or older and must have a clear criminal record with no felonies. They also must be cleared by the BATFE before being allowed to join.

"For a lot of us, pyrotechnics are really an addiction," Niedziela said. "A lot of it is longing to entertain people. I work in theater. So, by nature, entertaining is a part of my life." He also cited his "fascination with the craftsmanship, making (fireworks) and seeing what different things do."

For anyone who has an interest or love of fireworks, "This is a great outlet for it," Murphy said, noting that members get a discount on fireworks from local retailers as well as access to purchase and possess different kinds of fireworks.

"The club is a great way for someone who wants to learn more about how to shoot and choreograph fireworks," Fry said.

"If anybody likes fireworks, come out and see us," Niedziela said.

The PA-Pyrotechnic Artists will be a the Burrell Township Rod and Gun Club 5-9 p.m. Saturday. For more information on the club, visit their web site.

 

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