The 'magic' of
fireworks prep
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Fireworks might seem like magic, but they’re not. In fact, it’s tedious careful work by trained professionals.
Professionals from Pyrotecnico are back again this year to create a fireworks extravaganza for the 20,000 folks predicted to attend this evening.
Chase Hughes, facility manager for Pyrotecnico, said there will be a total of 920 shells and the finale involves 420 of that total.
There will be 17 “cakes.” Those are shells that give a “bigger bang for the buck,” he said. They are small, yet can contain between 25 to 320 explosives each.
He is the “shooter” for tonight’s display. Asked about his strategy, Hughes said he likes “to build up as we go along.”
He promised the audience won’t be disappointed.
And for one of the employees Putnam’s fireworks are special. He remembers his father taking him to the Quinebaug River when he was 5 to watch the fireworks. It’s a sentimental thing for him now. “I will always, always work on the Putnam show,” he said.
Absolutely.
captions:
Chase Hughes, the "shooter"
Linda Lemmon photos.