Close Encounters of a Fireworks Kind

In my previous life as head of a park and recreation agency, I had the opportunity for close encounters with fireworks. In one particular case,  it didn't turn out so well.

For a number of years early in my career we had the responsibility of putting on the fireworks show for our community. It was a lot of pressure so you can imagine how closely I monitored the professionals we hired. We had done our due diligence and the company came with great references. They were good.

Me, on the other hand, I was young and stupid!

In my first year of being responsible for the show I thought it would be a great idea to be right up there where the fireworks were being shot off. What could possibly go wrong? This was before we were using companies with computer driven shows. To set off the fireworks, men would run around with flares lighting the fuses.

If you've ever seen the actual fireworks, they look a lot like those cannonballs with a fuse that one would see on Saturday morning cartoons. They are placed in tubes or mortars that are partially buried in the ground.  In those days, to set them off, one would light the fuse and step away. The unmistakable WHOOSH, is the sound it makes as the charge blasts it out of the mortar tube.

When I arrived at the launch area an hour ahead of time everything was set up and ready to go. No problem. It was a hot night so I was wearing shorts and one of my "official" shirts. The guys setting off the fireworks had on some sort of fire resistant coveralls. Hmmm.

The early part of the show went off without a hitch. About halfway through the show one of the guys stepped up and lit one of the fuses. Instead of the immediate WHOOSH, I heard him scream something like "Sh-t". An important code word, I thought. Everyone hit the ground, including me in my shorts and official shirt!

I recall seeing the ball elevating out of the tube and seemingly hanging about 20 feet over our heads and then exploding! 

I was near a vehicle (which should not have been there) and I immediately scooted underneath it. No one was hurt but I was plenty scared. The vehicle had many little scorch marks on it. The fireworks show continued as I hurriedly left the area in my somewhat scorched car. 

One close encounter with fireworks was enough for me.