Four Days Work for 20 Minutes of ‘Awesome;’ Lighting up Night Sky for Lower’s Celebration

NORTH CAPE MAY – The visual and audible allure produced by pyrotechnics has remained a part of human entertainment, wonder and awe since China first experimented with potassium nitrate and other substances in A.D. 600.
Their goal was to find the secret to immortality. Although they never found eternal life, the resultant flashes and booms sparked a new industry that has amazed people all over the world to this day. But what does it take to give us 20 minutes of “wow” and “ooh?”
Ken Furstoss knows the allure of fireworks first-hand as the producer of this year’s Lower Township fireworks display for Pyrotecnico, a nationwide company based in New Castle, Dela. that has provided pyrotechnical shows since 1889.
Born and raised in the Vineland area, Furstoss had an established career in aviation, and owned his own company until one day about 17 years ago when he flew the owner of Pyrotecnico to a Williamsburg, Va. fireworks show that the company was producing.
What he witnessed that day, and learned from the owner on the return flight, sealed his next career move. He was hooked. After some volunteer work, and on-the-job training, he received his state license and the rest is history.
He sold his aviation company and began producing fireworks shows 15 years ago. “We are all licensed by state; I hold P-TECH licenses in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New York” he stated.
“I really like the entertainment aspect of the business” said Furstoss. “We go all over the country to provide shows; we have 45 shows scheduled just for this Fourth of July weekend including Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.”
“Our crews are permitted by Lower Township, and approved by the Department of Justice based on background checks that have been required since Sept. 11 (2001),” he said. “Our crews are also approved by the FAA (airspace must be cleared), and the U.S. Coast Guard, due to the use of the barge.”
Furstoss further explained that there is a terrific amount of planning and grunt work that must be completed perfectly to ensure an entertaining and safe show for spectators and crew.
He related that he uses a crew of six to create the Lower Township show that will be particularly difficult because the 3,800 shells required to accomplish the show will be launched from a floating barge.
Weather and sea state will impact the use of the barge more than land-based shows. Furstoss designs the display according to the customer’s wishes and budget, and then plans the specific firing order and intervals for the specialty shells and devices they will need to accomplish his vision.
Lower Township allotted $42,500 for this year’s display. The mortar shells they use range from three inches to eight inches in diameter; all will be electronically launched from the barge where the crew members will be stationed throughout the display.
The crew will work two, 12-hour days prior to July 3 to set up the display, not counting the planning and actual implementation on the barge on July 3. That translates to well over 150 hours of dangerous work to create 20 minutes of “awesome.”
Furstoss hopes that everyone will “Come on out and enjoy the show;” this only happens once a year.
As always, the fireworks display and festival can best be viewed from the Delaware Bay beaches between Lincoln and Emerson avenues in North Cape May.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. on July 3; the fireworks will begin at about 9 p.m.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.
For a list of other Fourth of July celebrations, parades and fireworks around the county, go to: http://goo.gl/nRJww4.