Thoughts By Thunder Pyrotechnics LLC

Picture this, it’s summer, hotdogs and burgers are on the grill, kids are swimming and running around and you’re celebrating with your friends and family. Maybe you buy some small fireworks because you want some of those adorable pictures of the kids with sparklers so you can keep the memory of their faces lit up. Maybe it’s not Independence Day that you celebrate with fireworks, maybe it’s a wedding, birthday, New Year’s Eve, whichever your event may be, we’re here to talk about being safe with fireworks.  First things first, if you have been enjoying yourself and are under the influence stay where you are! It's not worth it to lose a limb or worse. If you are sober and decide to go, get some fireworks to liven up the party, do not smoke in the vehicle or while loading and unloading the vehicle around the fireworks. NEVER light any firework, fountain, sparkler etc. while under the influence or while smoking. Make sure to have a water source and/or fire extinguisher near your light...

       After our other safety posts, we felt it necessary to discuss one more area of safety. It may seem like common sense; however, people were eating Tide™ pods. So, here we are, talking about how fireworks of all things are actually poisonous.      You might be thinking to yourself, are they for real? 100% we are! The chemicals that are used to make fireworks are what make them poisonous. Some of the elements used are Barium, Copper, Aluminum, Calcium Phosphide, Antimony and many more.       Let's talk about these for a moment. Barium is a metal powder that is used to stabilize volatile elements and create a green hue. Copper, which is actually Cupric Chlorate, is a powder used as an oxidizer, that makes blue hues. Aluminum as a fine powder, can explode if too much is in the air, Aluminum creates white and silver hues. Calcium Phosphide when mixed with water will create a flammable gas, it is HIGHLY toxic, and Antimony is the bl...

We are very grateful to have Assistant Fire Chief, Garth Schumacher take time out of his busy work schedule to answer some questions about firework safety. Garth is an EFO (Executive Fire Officer), EMT-P (Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic) and Fire Investigator. He takes his position very seriously and his knowledge and experience shines through his answers. Garth has 31 years of total experience in fire and rescue. He has been with Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for 24 years and served 7 years in Van Dyne, Wisconsin as a volunteer.  What are the qualities to look for in a location to shoot fireworks? Qualities to look for in a site, the site should be clear of obstructions and allow for proper setback distance of the display and the spectators.  Also, if the site is near a residential area fallout from the pyrotechnics should be taken into account.      If people are watching, how far away should they be? Minimum distances from display to spectators is defined by...