You want to hear about somewhere cool to work? How about in the middle of a fireworks show?
That’s where Chad Lister finds himself often. Most recently, he’s there every Friday night the Hub City Spartanburgers have a home game. On Fireworks Fridays, Lister is the triggerman for the team’s fireworks show for Pyrotecnico.
Account Executive Chaz Adams with Pyrotecnico told us a little about what goes into a show like the one at Fifth Third Park.
“A lot goes into a show for the Spartanburgers and it takes a whole lot of people,” Adams said. “From concept to clean-up is our motto, and it’s a standard we hold ourselves to at the highest level. From the sale of the shout the execution, there are hours of work being done by multiple people. From packing the show to loading the truck to setting the show up, firing the show, and cleaning up, our team devotes time, passion, and energy into each and every show to give our clients, and in this case the Spartanburger faithful, the best experience possible.”
That passion is evident in Lister. He started selling fireworks in 1986, at the age of 12, and he’s been around the industry since. He’s seen a bunch of changes from the standpoint of what’s allowed and what can be offered to the public. And he’s put in the hours of study and licensing requirements to be able to put on a quality, safe, professional show.
“There’s a lot involved in getting to do this professionally,” he said. “You have to shoot different levels of shows, you have to study the regulations, and the fire academy requires a two-hour, 200-question test for certification. It’s tough.”
It’s also a lot different from anything you’d imagine if you’re shooting fireworks at home. Lister fires each separate display, called a cake, electronically. That requires a fuse that transmits a tiny 12-volt spark, igniting the powder in the cake. It’s all done from a safe distance and remotely.
“It’s a long way from flicking a lighter and getting away as quick as you can,” he said. “It’s a much easier, much safer way to do it.”
He’s also involved in Spartanburg’s Red, White, and Boom, an even bigger show. It will be held at Fifth Third Park for the first time this year, moving from Barnet Park.
Some of the cakes used in the Spartanburgers shows are also available at Lister’s seasonal business, Freddie’s Fireworks. He’s got locations in Roebuck at 3146 Stone Station Rd., and in Piedmont at 7788 Augusta Rd. He’s been helping the area celebrate for more than 30 years, and has something to offer just about everyone.
That includes tips on safety. Lister wants everyone to use caution and common sense when using his products.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 12, and I’ve got 10 fingers, 10 toes, and all my teeth,” he said with a laugh. “That’s because safety is something you’ve got to take seriously.”
For the home fireworks enthusiast, Lister said safety often boils down to good old common sense.
“Distance is your friend,” he said. “The typical guideline is distance as related to the bore of the shells that you’re shooting and their range. For instance, at Spartanburgers games, we use 1.5-inch bore. That’s 150 feet, so a 200-foot radius is safe. If everything goes wrong, if that cake falls over and it shoots sideways, it’s going 150 feet. If you’re 200 feet away, it’s never even going to get to you.”
And, if things do go wrong, planning is key.
“It can be as simple as keeping a five-gallon bucket of water ready,” Lister said. “If you don’t have a water pressure fire extinguisher, you’d be surprised at what a difference just having that water ready can make.”
Adams echoed Lister’s thoughts on safety when using fireworks at home.
“Neighborhood/backyards are such a fun tradition around the Fourth, but they should certainly be done with the full understanding that these are explosives they are dealing with,” he said. “When viewing fireworks at home, back up farther than you think. It is best to be a little farther away in case of malfunctions, which certainly do happen. When shooting fireworks, wear appropriate protective gear. Eye, ear, and skin protection could go a long way in the case of any incidents. I would also direct anyone and everyone to the APA's website and social media as they are always posting helpful tips to promote safety.”
Lister said he’s happy to provide something the community enjoys to celebrate the holiday. Freddie’s Fireworks is open now, but Lister said business will really pick up starting Thursday.
“We’re here starting at about 2:00 until sometime later in the evening for the first couple of days of July,” he said at the Roebuck stand on June 30. “You’ve got to let people know you’re open. They need to see you. But on the third and on through the fourth, that’s when the business really comes in. We’ll be open from 9 a.m. until people quit coming by. We want to make sure folks have what they want.”
