Sidney celebrates fourth of July

That Sidney's July 3 fireworks display went smoothly is more a result of planning, effort and hard work than colorful explosives.

For chief Keith Stone and the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, responsible for putting on the annual holiday show, Independence Day consumes several days, starting even before fireworks are ordered.

“I’ve been doing this for 37 years,” noted Assistant Fire Chief Larry Chaon, one of a team of 20 trained for the event.

Longevity means he knows the process thoroughly.

“We have to set all the tubes,” he said. “Then the night of the shoot it takes two people to light it, one person sorting in each bank—and we have two banks—then three people loading the shells into the tubes.”

Two safety officers observe the action, one dedicated to each bank of explosives.

Each participant is taught how to handle shells, how to identify problems and the procedures to follow if something goes awry. They know what to do when they hear “fire in the hole.” A certified pyrotechnic expert is on hand throughout.

Before the show, the department cuts grass and takes other measures to lower the risk of fire.

With the exception of a few small ground fires, the SVFD has not encountered any real problems over the past 40 years. They have recorded no injuries of note in that span.

Each tube is set off by hand. The department does not use electronics. It's doubtful, Chaon said, they would add a computerized element.

“To go electronic you would need a lot more fireworks,” he explained. “It would be nice sometimes, but it would take out the fun for the guy’s who have been on the crews for years. It’s a lot of fun, hope the people enjoy it.”

The history of fireworks goes back thousands of years. They are part of this country's Independence Day celebration thanks to the urging, in his writings, of Founding Father John Adams.

In a letter to his wife, Abigail, Adams wrote of the Declaration of Independence, “it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminaitons, from one end of this continent to the other.”