Having a Blast in Jackpot

Firefighters reveal behind-the-scenes tasks to produce up-close fireworks extravaganza

By Dianna Troyer

What was on Brad Hester’s shopping list for this year’s Fourth of July fireworks show in Jackpot?

“You’ll have to come and see for yourself,” says Brad, a certified pyrotechnician and Jackpot resident who will be in charge of shooting his 24th show for the town. “Whatever I pick will produce a 30-minute show.”

Every February, he orders about 3,500 shells, ranging from 1 to 12 inches in diameter. He chooses traditional crowdpleasers like chrysanthemums, willows, brocades, palms, and fountains that produce a kaleidoscope of colors and reverberating booms.

“Then I pick some new ones, too, so every show is a little different,” he says. “I’ve been doing this a long time, but it never gets old. It’s such an adrenaline rush and satisfying at the same time because it’s a community service.”

The extravaganza at the airport starts at 10:20 p.m. and attracts an audience of about 5,000 from a 150-mile radius.

“Our show is different from others because people can be close to the action and watch us as we shoot the shells by hand,” he says. “People like how close they can get within the safety zone. For shells the size of a basketball, we have to dig a hole and ignite them from there. You can feel the rumbling when they come out of the ground.”

Fans of Jackpot’s fireworks shows are dedicated.

“One friend has reserved the same RV spot for 20 years,” Brad says. “There are no trees or anything in the way, so everyone has a great view.”

A few days before the show, fire department members help set up six sections of racks with mortar tubes and position them at the staging area. They also put in fire lines to prevent any falling embers from starting a fire.

“We shoot the show manually instead of electronically because it’s not as tedious to set up and clean up,” Brad says. “We drop the firework shells down a tube and ignite them manually with a flare.”

He and the five others on the fireworks crew learned to shoot a show when they became certified pyrotechnicians with the Nevada State Fire Marshal’s Office.

When they arrive to start the show, everyone is cheering and ready for a good time, Brad says.

Some people have told him they are surprised to realize he and his crew have no time to watch the show, even though they are choreographing it.

“Once we start, it’s intense—fast and furious,” Brad says. “It takes all six of us. We set up so we can all watch each other and all reload shells.”

The crew doesn’t mind that their months of planning and work goes up in smoke in minutes.

“We like hearing the crowd’s reaction— all the oohs and aahs of appreciation and the cheers and applause,” Brad says.

The show always starts with several “cakes,” a group of 100 to 200 fireworks with multiple Roman candles or small aerial shells connected together by a high speed fuse.

The pyrotechnicians’ training makes them aware of the risks.

“We’ve all been hit by sparks falling to the ground,” Brad says. “The fireworks for the grand finale are covered so stray embers can’t accidentally set them off prematurely.”

Occasionally, instead of going off in the air, a firework explodes near the ground. The fire department staff is on hand to extinguish any fires when the show ends. They have to pick up the misfires, too, and douse them in water.

Whatever happens, Brad’s crew and the fire department are prepared.

The summer show is not their only one. To celebrate the Christmas holiday season, Brad orders fireworks in September to stage a smaller show in mid-December.

“Whenever we shoot a show, we want people to remember and have a great time so they’ll keep coming back,” Brad says.

On the Fourth of July, Jackpot also hosts a parade at noon, followed by a community barbecue from 1 to 3 p.m. at the city park. Live music and the fire department’s water slide entertain celebrants until the fireworks show starts later that evening.

Concern for Community

In Jackpot, the fire department isn’t just about putting out fires.

Under Fire Department Chief Brian Hugill’s leadership, the 12-member Jackpot Fire Department has become a cornerstone of community service in the town of 1,200 residents.

“We are a fire department like no other,” Brian says. “In a town the size of Jackpot, you help with a lot of outreach because there’s a need, and we’re here.”

Their community service projects, often coordinated with the town’s Public Works Department, are varied and vital.

The fire department members:
• Deliver meals when needed.
• Loan a trailer to Public Works employees to pick up food in Wells for the local food pantry.
• Provide standby emergency medical services for drag and off-road races.
• Built the children’s park and assembled structures there.
• Installed a town walking trail.
• Organize the town Easter egg hunt.
• Sponsor the Haunted Forest at Halloween.
• Put on a small fireworks show for Christmas in mid-December and have Santa provide gifts to children.
• Helped salvage a building so it could be remodeled with grants into a senior center. n