Jul 25, 2008 6:51 pm US/Eastern
Larry On The Job: Zambelli Fireworks
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
There is no place on Earth where people enjoy fireworks more than right here in Pittsburgh.
And the first family of fireworks, the Zambelli's from New Castle, is the biggest name in booms.
George is one of four generations of Zambelli's who still seem very excited about blowing stuff up. But it's really more about art meeting explosives.
"What we want to do is paint the night's dark canvas with Zambelli magic," George Zambelli said.
KDKA Radio's Larry Richert found out first hand what goes into one of Zambelli's spectacular shows.
"This is your basic multi-colored chrysanthemum right here, a four incher," Lou Zambelli said. "Then, you cut the fuses. You take the igniter, you slide it in real slow. You don't want to cause any friction."
Each shell is electronically wired to choreograph a sequential firing.
Zambelli loads the firing tubes, inspects them, then covers them up with foil to keep out the moisture. Then, phase one of their show is almost complete.
Just before a recent Pirates game, the barge was moved closer to PNC Park on the Allegheny Rivet to act as a floating launch pad.
And on the rustic barge is a very high-tech computer system inside a little wooden shack. You could call it the brain center for the fireworks display.
"This is basically the whole show. It gives you a description of what going to happen at what interval here," Zambelli said.
It is linked to wires that connect to every fireworks shell and they are tested. Once everything is in check, Zambelli waits for the firing time.
At the end of the Pirates game, Zambelli gets a call from inside the park. The operator turns a key and drags the cursor on the computer to fire. But it doesn't fire right then.
"Fire" just sets the computer until they get a call from PNC Park that coordinates the music with the firing sequence by using a series of tones that signal the software to commence the real ignition.
Then, everyone including Larry can enjoy the show.
The hard work that Zambelli Fireworks does to put on a show live has really made the family known for their fireworks. The Zambelli name is synonymous with fireworks not only in Pittsburgh but around the world.
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