SIOUX CITY, IA -
Fireworks are obviously fun to watch, but do you ever wonder how they get those colorful explosions up in the sky?Well we wondered the same thing. We caught up with a pyrotechnic expert to get a sneak peak at how fireworks make their way to Sioux City in time for the big show.
It all starts in China. Yes, China.
And when it comes from half a world away, Don Lantis only wants the best.
"If it's not good, I don't want it, you better make sure its good. And then so they'll say, O.K this is good, this is good and they tell me what is really good," Don said.
When they're ready to be shipped, they're loaded onto a boat. The fireworks don't actually make it to Sioux City for another four weeks.
They make a few stops first. They arrive in San Francisco, and then are transferred to Chicago by train, finally they are transported to Sioux City by truck. And Don checks everything by hand.
"I have to account for every little shell. If I'm one shell off, they find it," he said.
And that's when the big buyers come in.
"The Explorers, what they do, is they say Don we want to spend so much money a year, and then I divide the shows up," Don said.
One of the shows, is tonight, so Don and his crew get to the stadium hours in advance to set up.
"They'll take it all out of the boxes, and then they load the shells into the different tubes," he said.
And the display is wireless, so Don and his crew can be a safe distance away, but they wear protective fire gear just in case. The gear is HOT and Don's mad I made him put it on early.
"Now, this is abusive to old people. She's sittin in shorts, and she wants me to put on this heavy coat so people can see it! I thought my wife was abusive to me, but no," he said.
All in good fun of course. Once the fireworks are set up, it's Showtime.
