Fire in the Sky How Fireworks Work

Fireworks are as much an Independence Day tradition as barbecues, watermelon and swimming. Across the globe, fireworks have been a part of celebrations for hundreds of years.

The practice of igniting airborne explosives dates back to 1130 when a “fire lance” was made in China by filling a bamboo tube with a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal.

In Europe fireworks eventually became an important part of civic and royal events. In 15th Century Italy they were used to celebrate religious festivals, coronations, royal weddings and births and military victories. The marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England, was celebrated in 1613 by a fireworks display on the Thames River. George Frideric Handel wrote his “Music for the Royal Fireworks” to accompany a pyrotechnic display in 1749.

Today, professional fireworks shows have largely replaced the back-yard “safe and sane” fireworks displays that are now outlawed throughout the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, except in the city of Palmdale.

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Behind the Scenes

There are about 470 people licensed to perform fireworks shows in California. Their preparations for each nighttime show begin in the morning when, among other things, they dig holes that will house mortars that will shoot shells into the air. Typically, two people light the fireworks, four others reload the mortars and several others watch the sky to see if the fireworks discharge.

The Shell

1. Two to three feet of fast fuse is hand lit using a road flare.

2. Fuse takes fire to gunpowder lift charge

3. Charge explodes, propelling shell into air at 300 to 400 m.p.h.

4. The shell fuse ignites the burst charge about four seconds after the lift charge

5. Chemical cubes in shell explode producing colored fireworks.

The Mortar

Cardboard or metal mortar; three-to-six-inch diameter, buried to three quarters of its length.

Up in Smoke

Spectators will see about 250 fireworks, with 150 in the finale, during a professional show. Smaller shows cost $5,000 and run 12 minutes while bigger shows can last 20 minutes and cost $7,000 to $10,000.

How Fireworks Work:

The patterns of fireworks depend on the size of the glittering “stars,” the way they are packed inside a shell, and even the shape of the shell itself. Among the burst patterns are the peony, chrysanthemum, spider web, palm tree, red-tipped comet and finale. Different chemicals are used to create the colors.

GREEN: Barium nitrate or chlorate

YELLOW: Sodium Salts

ORANGE/AMBER: Charcoal or iron

WHITE: Magnesium or aluminum powder

RED: Strontium nitrate or carbonate

BLUE: Copper salts

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Valley Events

A sampling of professional fireworks shows in the Valley region:

Cal State Northridge North Campus

Zelzah Avenue and Devonshire Street

Gates open at 2 p.m., entertainment at 5:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.

Tickets: $8 adults, $5 seniors.

(818) 349-5676

Pierce College stadium

6201 Winnetka Ave.

Woodland Hills

Gates open at 4 p.m., entertainment at 5:30 p.m., fireworks at dusk.

Tickets: $11 adults, $9 children under 12 and senior citizens; on-campus parking $5.

(818) 703-7859

Starlight Bowl

1249 Lockheed View Dr.

Burbank

Gates open at 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

Tickets: $20 box seats, $7 and $10 reserved, $5 lawn seats, $5 seniors 60 and older, children 12 and under, and wheelchair seating.

(818) 953-9572

Recreation Park

208 Park Ave.

San Fernando

Fireworks about 8:30 p.m.

Tickets: Free admission

(818) 361-7155

Crescenta Valley High School

4400 Ramsdell Ave.

La Crescenta

Gates open at noon for daylong carnival, fireworks at dusk

Tickets: General admission $5, children under 5 get in free

(818) 248-4957

Antelope Valley Fairgrounds

Division Street and Avenue I

Lancaster

Carnival runs 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.

Tickets: Free admission

(805) 723-6077

Palmdale High School

2137 E. Avenue R

Gates open at 6:30 p.m., entertainment at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.

Tickets: Free admission

(805) 273-3232

Sources: Pyro Spectaculars Inc., Encyclopedia Americana, California State Fire Marshal