| When we're children we're warned against the | | | | In the UK, there are two major pyrotechnics |
| hazards of playing with fire. Threats range from | | | | associations, which regulate the industry and work |
| the tame but embarrassing consequence of | | | | to ensure that high standards of safety and |
| bed-wetting, to the scarier scenario of the | | | | professionalism are upheld. The British |
| neighbourhood going up in flames, all because the | | | | Pyrotechnists Association is involved primarily with |
| hapless child wanted to light a match. But fire | | | | fireworks, while the Association of Stage |
| appeals to something primitive deep within us all | | | | Pyrotechnicians is interested in anything to do with |
| and not everyone grows out of his or her early | | | | theatrical pyrotechnics, including stage, concert |
| fascination with its destructive beauty. | | | | and conference events. |
| There are several options available to fire-lovers. | | | | If money is as interesting to you as fire is, look |
| They can pit themselves against the flames as | | | | no further than the entertainment industry, where |
| fire-fighters, or they can learn to control fire and | | | | the bigger the pyrotechnics the better. Countless |
| all things fire-related as pyrotechnicians. There is | | | | entertainers (singers and wrestlers) like to make |
| also the option of arson, but that's not something | | | | an appearance amid fireworks or deceptively |
| we like to encourage. | | | | dangerous flames. And there is nothing movie |
| According to Wikipedia, pyrotechnicians are | | | | makers like more than to blow things up. |
| "responsible for the safe storage, handling, and | | | | One thing you'll never be short of is excitement. |
| functioning of pyrotechnics and pyrotechnic | | | | One veteran pyrotechnician says that even after |
| devices." The term refers chiefly to those who | | | | 22 years in the industry, he still gets a little |
| work in the entertainment industry, but can be | | | | scared. That's because pyrotechnics can be |
| stretched to include those who handle fireworks | | | | unpredictable, and unpredictability is dangerous. As |
| and explosives. | | | | another professional says, it can be embarrassing |
| In most countries, aspiring and professional | | | | when nothing happens instead of the big bang |
| pyrotechnicians are required to have a licence or | | | | everyone was expecting. But then you have to |
| some form of certification, although there is very | | | | go into an uncertain situation to try and find out |
| little consensus as to what that means. In the | | | | why. Many technicians have been injured |
| United States for example, there is no national | | | | investigating erratic fuses that didn't burn as they |
| certification programme and it's up to the individual | | | | should have. |
| states to implement their own licensing regulations. | | | | Not all accidents are unhappy ones, however. |
| Problems arise when states don't use the same | | | | During the filming of the movie Blown Away, an |
| definitions or have the same operating | | | | explosion in Boston Harbour was badly |
| requirements. The situation is further complicated | | | | miscalculated, and shattered windows up to 30 |
| by a lack of reciprocity. Some states refuse to | | | | blocks away. The result was caught on 14 |
| recognise certification granted in other areas of | | | | well-placed cameras and the dramatic images |
| the US, which leads to a situation where | | | | played an important role in the movie's marketing |
| technicians have to carry multiple licenses. | | | | campaign. |