Wolverine Fireworks prepares to impress

Lauren Fitch

Colorful explosions followed by the crackle and boom of fireworks can evoke a sense of awe and excitement making the whole display seem almost magical. But behind the magic are hours of careful planning and hard work as Bill Anderson and Corey Gillespie, co-leaders of the Alpena crew for Wolverine Fireworks, well know.

For the past 10 years, Gillespie and Anderson have been fireworks technicians for Wolverine Fireworks working on the Alpena crew.

The Fourth of July is their main show, and they spend five days leading up to the event setting up mortars, unloading the fireworks and testing everything to ensure the show goes smoothly.

In addition to the set up, Gillespie said he spends about 80 hours planning the music, choreography and timing of the show.

"My favorite part is watching the plan unfold," Gillespie, who does five to six shows a year, said. "I like watching everything go off."

Alpena's show, which Anderson said is among the top 10 percent of the biggest shows in the state, is executed on electronic firing.

Each firework is programmed to go off at a specific time in sync with the music chosen for that show.

"There are miles and miles of wire," Gillespie said of the set up. "I like the electronic firing though. With hand firing, you don't get to watch the show and I prefer the precision."

Gillespie and Anderson both said their interest in fireworks began as kids and although they have worked on fireworks shows for years, it is still fun.

"Every year is entirely different," Gillespie said.

Anderson, an Alpena native like the majority of the crew, said he has not simply watched a fireworks display since 1970.

An electrician at Presque Isle Lafarge, Anderson said the fuel behind his passion for fireworks is actually lighting the fuse.

"You don't make money in fireworks," he said. "You have to love it."

The Alpena fireworks show has become a family affair for Anderson as his wife, daughter and daughter's boyfriend are all involved in the set up this year.

Safety is always a concern in executing a good fireworks show, and no one has been injured since Wolverine Fireworks took over the job.

Anderson said his main concern during a show is fireworks that don't light properly, for example duds and fireworks that go off right out of the gun.

Of the couple thousand fireworks lit at last year's display, Anderson said only four didn't go off, which he said made for a good show.

The $18,500 budget for this year's show bought about 1,800 shells, surpassing the average $8,000 to $10,000 budget for other fireworks shows in the area.

Anderson and Gillespie said they can choose whatever types of fireworks they want to use as long as the crowd enjoys it and usually pick a patriotic, fun theme.

Music for the show, which Gillespie said is an important part of the theme, will be broadcast on 91.9 FM.

There will be more room for spectators this year, Anderson added, though they must be kept at least 720 feet away from the biggest shell.

Alpena's fireworks show is scheduled to start at 10:20 p.m. from behind the Water Treatment Plant and can be viewed from Starlite Beach, Mich-e-ke-wis Park, Blair Street Park, Thomson Park, Bay View Park and the City Marina as well as other locations around town.