STORY:
Fireworks Firms Exploding with Activity

Pyrotechnic makers scrambling to get fireworks made for New Year's Eve

Huge firework displays are planned in most every major city this New Year’s Eve. That means millions of fireworks have to be built for those displays and the companies doing the construction are scrambling to meet the increased demand, especially when cities like Sydney Australia are boasting of hosting the world's largest New Year's Eve fireworks show.

Some pyrotechnic companies are making three times more fireworks this year than any previous New Year’s Eve. On top of that, the firework displays planned for most areas are very elaborate and special shells are under construction to make sure the display is the "best ever" for their clients.

There are 160 fireworks display companies in the nation and all are facing an increasing demand this year. Blue Hill Pyrotechnics in Maine orchestrated just six shows last New Year’s Eve, and this year the company is putting on almost 20 fireworks displays. To keep up with the demand 180 part-time technicians have been hired.

The increased demand brings an increased price tag and some displays are costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The average price of a show by Fireworks by Grucci, based on Long Island, N.Y., will be in the six figures. Grucci is doing displays from Dublin, Ireland to Honolulu. The biggest display will be their Washington D.C. show. In fact, Grucci claims that fireworks extravaganza will be the "biggest in the world".

One thing is certain; it’s going to is a pyrotechnics dream come true this New Year’s Eve as fireworks celebrations explode around the world. But after New Year’s they can’t rest for too long, after all the Fourth of July is right around the corner and it will be the "first" Fourth of July of the 21^st century.

Source: Associated Press

DATE: 11/29/99

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