• Label every device. Write numbers on the top or side near the fuse using light-colored masking tape and a black marker. Number in the exact order you plan to fire them — the tape shows up well in low light.
• Expose the fuse. Remove any fuse covering in daylight so you know exactly where to light in the dark.
• Check audience location and wind. Put the audience downwind from the launch area, so smoke blows away from them. Aim for at least 125 feet between fireworks and spectators, more if possible.
• Orient devices for safety and effect. Make sure to face fan-shaped effects correctly, so they down launch toward the audience. Line up fuses so they’re accessible from the back outside corner of your two-row layout (see diagram). This also helps you keep track in the dark.
• Level and stabilize. Make sure each device sits level. Even on level ground, it is advised to stabilize your fireworks to prevent tipping.

• This layout works well for a manually fired show. You can place devices close together or even tape them to one another for an electrically fired display using the IGNITE Firing System.
• Two rows, spaced apart: Place two rows about 10–20 feet apart.
• Spacing between devices: Place each device roughly 5 feet from the next (adjust to fit the site).
• Numbering pattern: Use an offset zig-zag pattern for the numbers so you can move smoothly between fuses while walking the firing line. Even numbers on one side, odd numbers on the other.
• Consider the wind direction: Place the lower numbers downwind of the higher numbers to minimize sparks on unlit fireworks.
• Ensure there are clear walkways between devices.

Before the show starts, everyone working the firing line should wear:

• Safety glasses
• Non-flammable clothing (cotton or similar)
• Hard hat (when appropriate)
• Hearing protection

Also have on hand:

• Headlamp or hands-free light (we often wear one around the neck)
• Water extinguishers, a charged garden hose long enough to reach the whole firing area, and/or buckets of water

• Preferred lighter: An instant-on push-button propane or butane torch.
• How we ignite: Hold the torch flame perpendicular to the fuse and touch the side of the flame to the fuse tip — like a “T.” This lights the fuse without burning the paper directly.
• Fuse burn time: expect 6–9 seconds between ignition and the device’s first tube firing (this varies by product).
• Pacing the show: After lighting a device, walk safely to the next device and wait near its fuse. Watch and listen to the device that’s firing so you learn its pace. When the first device is nearing its end, light the next fuse and move on — always walking away from the lit device.
• Counting shots: If you know the shot count, you can count and light the next device during a short gap or just before a device’s quickened 3–5 shot “finale.”
• Finale trick: Near the end of the show, shorten the gap between lighting, and you can light two or more devices at once for a faster, more exciting finish.