Every year in Mount Shasta, the fireworks display over Lake Siskiyou is a much-anticipated Fourth of July event. Locals and out-of-towners alike flock to the Mt. Shasta Resort and the Lake Siskiyou Campground to listen to live music, socialize, and bundle up to enjoy the show after dark falls.
Despite the difficult economic times, this year’s show promises to be no different said Tom Haistings, the chairman of the Chamber’s fireworks committee and one of two pyrotechnic operators in charge of the annual show.
“We’ll be putting over 1,500 shells in the air from various devices,” Haistings said. From shells that are two and a half inches in size to those the size of bowling balls, the show promises to be even more spectacular than last year.
“We start planning for next year’s show right after we’re finished... we ask ourselves what we could do better next year. Last year was good show that was very well received, so this year we’re adding some new things, some new looks,” Haistings said. “We got a couple of fun shells... watch for the smiley faces, cubes, and hearts.”
To add interest, the show is on multi elevations, with fireworks detonating anywhere from 100 to 800 feet in the air. Usually, Haistings said, there will be more than one shell in the air at any given time. In addition, musical accompaniment to the fireworks show will be available on the radio at KCWH 102.3 FM.
The show, which is planned to last 18 minutes from start to finish, features $21,500 worth of fireworks. Eighty percent of that, Haistings said, came from local businesses who donated $500 or more. These major sponsors include Wonderland Distributing, the Mt. Shasta Elks Lodge, Mt. Shasta Resort, Jon Thomas Fine Jewelry, Reynolds Resort - Lake Siskiyou Campgrounds, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Mt. Shasta, PacifiCorp, Cross Petroleum, Ray Mac Mechanical, Mountain Counties Supply – Lake Street Spirit, Mountain Runners, CCDA, John Smith Sanitation, Geppetto's Toy Store and AT&T Wireless Siskiyou Muffler.
A large percentage of the remaining portion is made during the Mt. Shasta Resort's Community Appreciation Day festivities on the green. All the money raised from the $2 entrance fee goes directly to the fireworks show. Featuring live music from the local band Rock-It from 7 p.m. until the start of the fireworks, the celebration at the Resort has become full-fledged social event.
“By far, the best seat in the house is on Lake Siskiyou,” Haistings said. For a $1 entrance fee, families can arrive at the Lake Siskiyou Campground early for a picnic, then head to the beach for a fantastic front-row view of the action.
Due to the caliber of shells used in this year’s show, boats must keep at least 1500 feet away from the firing site on North Shore Road. Haistings explained that this restriction will be enforced by not starting the show or by stopping the show if the safety zone is breached.
“We take all the safety precautions we can,” Haistings said. “The show is put on by trained professionals and licensed operators who plan and coordinate the entire thing.”
Haistings – together with fellow operator Reece Miller – will direct a crew of over a dozen volunteers who will help set up the complicated pyrotechnics over a two day period. To become state certified pyrotechnics operators, the two men had to first work as technicians, then begin apprenticing for other operators. Five separate letters of recommendation from five different operators and five different shows are required before taking a written test in Sacramento. If passed, background checks through the Department of Justice and the Transportation Security Administration must be cleared.
In the past, Haistings has worked on fireworks shows around the state, from the California State Fair to Chico, Rocklin to Shasta Lake City. He has been involved with the Mount Shasta Fourth of July Show for the past 8 years.
To donate to the fireworks fund, a drop box can be found at My
Favorite Things in Mount Shasta, or you can visit the website www.mtshastafireworks.com.
Mount Shasta, Calif. —
