By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
There will be fireworks, once again, in Levan but they will be the kind the whole community will enjoy.
The sky should be bright at the next Pioneer Day celebration because the city council has decided to authorize the expenditure for another year.
Lynn Bateman, from the fire department, presented two proposals to the city council from Fireworks America.
One was that the fireworks would cost the same as this summer’s but would have fewer fireworks due to price increases. The other was that there would be the same shell count as this year with a price increase.
“It was a good show,” said Bob Shepherd, mayor.
In July 2008, the show cost the city $1,500. In July 2009, the same show will cost $1,890.
“The city will get a 25 percent pre pay discount,” said Bateman. “That would be $473.”
Bateman asked if the council wanted to use the fuse system or the electronic firing system to set off the fireworks.
An electrical firing panel is an ideal way to set off a large quantity of fireworks for a show. The systems allow ignition of many fireworks and are considered safer than lighting fireworks manually.
In the past, in Levan, fireworks displays have been hand lit by pyrotechnicians standing very close to the fireworks.
Fireworks companies now promote using electric matches.
Those consist of a little tube that has some flammable chemicals in it and has two long wires coming out the back. Each firework has an electric match connected to its fuse.
During the display, the person firing the show presses electrical switch buttons on a firing panel and the electric matches connected to that button light the fireworks. That means the firer can be a much further and safer distance from the fireworks.
It also means that many fireworks, even spread out over a wide area, can be fired with the push of a button.
“Nephi has a board,” said Bateman.
Paul Mangelson, council member, asked if, since the fire departments were all now part of the fire district, the district should be liable for any accident or fire that might result from the shooting of the display.
“It is Levan City’s fireworks,” said Bateman.
That being so, the city would be liable for its own fireworks. The fire district does not interfere but they do not stand lability.
In that case, said Mangelson, all of those working with the fireworks should be trained.
Bateman said the greatest danger was not in lighting the fireworks, either by fuse or by electronic firing, but when the fireworks were actually being loaded or “shoved down the tube” in preparation for the display.
It was asked if electronic firing resulted in more duds. However, once the fireworks have come to an end, the duds can be fired. That requires disconnecting the battery and setting the fuse manually.
In the large 4th of July fireworks display in Nephi, there are not that many duds, said Bateman.
“Nephi uses electronic firing.”
Bateman said he was planning to train all those who would work with the fireworks. That had been his intent all along.
For years, larger displays have been fired electrically. It is considered, by fire fighters, safer than the old way of “hand firing” displays. In fact, electrical firing has become the preferred method.
“If they are shooting them, it should be their choice (as to which method is selected),” said Shepherd.
Brady Taylor, council member, agreed and said the city council should vote to donate the money and then let those who were working with the fireworks determine which method they would like to use.
Safety gear such as fire-proof coats and pants as well as head, ear, eye and hand protection are used by those working with the fireworks displays. In addition, fire equipment, to put out a brush fire, for example, is kept nearby.
Bateman was asked about fires that may be started by fireworks which might go astray. He said that fireworks holding devices for safely holding the fireworks so that they are fired in an upward direction also helps keep that from happening and, thus, prevents those types of fires.
Fireworks using the electric matches are set off by remote control using a signal sent by a transmitter. A receiver receives the signal and sends a current to an electronic match for igniting the fuse of the selected firework. The fireworks are therefore safely held and remotely ignited for increased safety.
The latest in technology for fireworks displays are computer firing systems. Those are the types of systems used in large cities.
