Pyrotechnic crew preps for fireworks show in Old Sacramento

From: ABC 10 News

Published: Sunday December 31, 2017

By: Daniela Pardo

With a few hours lefts in 2017, a pyrotechnics crew of about 20 people spent Sunday preparing for the New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular Show in Old Sacramento.

“This year, we’re doing a lot of special stuff over the bridge. If you’ve never seen a fireworks waterfall before, you want to get down and see it,” said Mike Knezovich, a pyrotechnics operator for Pyro Spectaculars.

Knezovich explains that the most challenging part of his job is making sure there’s consistency when crews are loading and wiring each shell.

“There aren’t people down there shooting shells individually. It’s the computer that will shoot everything, but we need to make sure that everything that’s wire is wired in where it’s supposed to go, and that we don’t have any electrical errors.”

Knezovich tells ABC10 there will be about 1,000 fireworks, plus hundreds of other individual effects displayed over the Sacramento River.

“You’ve got the aerial fireworks as the backdrop, and then you’ve got the low-level fireworks lined up all across the river walk,” adds Knezovich.

One of the pyrotechnicians who was in charge of loading the racks of mortar tubes at one of the four different launch sites said it was a privilege to be given that task.

“I think just the magic of creating something that you share with everyone watching and everyone on TV – I just love looking at people’s faces – and seeing the joy that we could bring to them,” said Kelly Souza.

ABC10 will be broadcasting the Sky Spectacular Live show from 8:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. 

Published from: http://www.abc10.com/news/local/pyrotechnic-crew-preps-for-fireworks-show-in-old-sacramento/503812606