FEATURES
Evanoff excels as Fort Carson's pyrotechnic magician

Pyrotechnician Matthew Evanoff has spend 9 years perfecting his craft. If he can choose between radio or wire ignition, he'd rather light them by hand. Photo by Linda Hobbs

By Linda Hobbs
The Fourth July was celebrated on the third of July at Fort Carson to allow families to be together on the Fourth.

On this day, Fort Carson put on their annual Fourth of July celebration, including -- of course -- fireworks.

“On the right is the launch site,” said Fort Carson Fire and Emergency Services (FCFES) Capt. Tom Joyce explained as he toured the fireworks launch site, bouncing up the access road in a Department Humvee. “No patrons are allowed here.” Pointing to the right, he added, “That’s where all the debris falls. It’s a thousand foot perimeter.”

A line of powerful shells are buried in tubes for skyward launches. "You don't want the tubes to fall over," explained Pyrotechnician Matthew Evanoff. Photo by Linda Hobbs

Coming upon a barricade Joyce and Firefighter Andy Collan parked, and hiked the rest of the way to the launch site. Surprisingly, this was their first time visiting the launch site just prior to the show. After initial inspections, they spend more time on-post, answering service calls.

There was some concern about their radios and whether they could set off the explosives prematurely. The firefighters were well equipped with beeping, blurting, hissing radios.

A three-inch shell, capable of launching huge, flower-like fireworks. Photo by Linda Hobbs

“If they say static electricity and lightening can set these off, well -- I know the ammo supply boys don’t want radios around,” Joyce commented. He worked at Camp Pendleton, where all radios had to be shut off.

Pyrotechnician Matthew Evanoff greeted the firefighters. One might expect a wild, animated character, in love with explosions and mayhem. But Evanoff came across as remarkably serene, centered, even Zen-like. For nine years Evanoff has been a licensed pyrotechnician with Western Enterprises. Western Enterprises handles a wide territory over the holiday, including Canon City, Air Force Academy and Palmer Lake.

A six-inch shell, designed for the most dramatic and massive fireworks explosions. Photo by Linda Hobbs

“I’m the one who actually lights the ignition,” Evanoff calmly explained. Western had started setting up on June 23, loading flat bed trucks with fireworks. All deliveries were completed over two days.

He explained the charges are not radio controlled, but wired. Nonetheless, cell phones, which can act as electronic detonators, were prudently shut off. The whole show was computer choreographed for electronic firing via wires snaking along the ground.

Does Evanoff prefer radio or wire-controlled fireworks?

“I prefer hand-lighting them,” he said.

An array of low-level boxes checkered the ground, each with 150 multiple fireworks designed to launch in a fanlike effect. Photo by Linda Hobbs

Illustrating what a small world it is, Evanoff’s other job is in construction, dealing with another kind of explosion: the region’s population. In fact, Evanoff worked on building Fountain’s new City Hall with H. W. Houston five years ago.

He looked down at Fort Carson, and the lights of Fountain Valley beyond and marveled at all the lights, reflecting the expansion of the region.

Returning to the business at hand, Evanoff showed off a few 3-inch shells as well as the massive 6-inch shells for climactic “monster explosions.” The bigger fireworks must be set in tubes buried in the ground, to absorb the 2,000 lb. Percussion upon launch.

“You don’t want the tubes to fall over,” Evanoff said in that oddly tranquil tone. He explained, “These are high pressure gas tubes so if they go off you don’t have to worry about shrapnel so much as the stars that come out of the shell.”

An array of low-level boxes checkered the ground, each with 150 multiple fireworks designed to launch in a fanlike effect. Those would be interspersed by huge flower mortars, culminating in a brilliant grand finale using six-inch mortars going off rapid-fire.

Surprisingly, Evanoff didn’t know how much each charge was worth, cash-wise. He explained they just send him the product and he shoots them.

“I just worry about the art, not the books,” he says.

Beyond the explosions and bright lights though, Evanoff said the best part of any show is when the crowds voices rise up from the distance in a rolling, euphoric cheer.

CONTACT THE WRITER • linda.hobbs@ftnvalleynews.com