FDNY Blasting Unit Oversees the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
The firing board that controls the release of all the fireworks.
Although Independence Day is a treasured holiday for many New Yorkers, it’s considered one of the busiest days of the year for the FDNY’s Blasting Unit.
They oversee the six barges used for the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks display, each loaded with 6,000 to 7,000 fireworks shells and rockets.
On the barge, clusters of fireworks are divided into rows of steel racks, which Blasting Unit’s Chief Inspector Jim Lauer said ensures that if one explodes erroneously, the entire barge will not be jeopardized.
Each firework also is wired to a computer called a firing board that controls the show. These computers are located at the end of the barge in a safety container, which is a trailer sized box that serves as a protective shell for the workers. They used this computer system on July 1 also to test each shell and ensure they would fire without a hitch during the show.
Members of the FDNY's Blasting Unit. (L to R) Chief Inspector Jim Lauer, Deputy Chief Inspector Chuck Holzinger, Supervising Inspector Luis Romero and Supervising Inspector Andrew Dushynsky.
On July 4, six tugboats pull the barges to their locations on the Hudson River between 23rd and 50th streets.
Then, as millions gather to watch the spectacular display, members of the blasting unit take their places. Two or three members are stationed on each barge. One acts as the crew chief and sits in the safety container, while the other watches the explosions to ensure flares and embers are not hitting another barge.
Another member of the unit is stationed in the tugboat wheel house, ensuring the barges remain 1,000 feet apart and the same distance from shore. And other blasting inspectors are in the command posts, located on 27th Street and at the Intrepid overseeing the entire operation.
The 23 minute show will begin at 9 p.m. on July 4.
The members working the event include:
Intrepid Command
Chief Inspector J. Lauer
Deputy Chief Inspector L. McCassling
Deputy Chief Inspector N. Criscuolo
Pier 66
Deputy Chief Inspector C. Holzinger
Barge 1 – Red Barge
Crew Chief: Supervising Inspector D. Chalmers
Wheel House: Supervising Inspector M. Fredericks
Spotter: Supervising Inspector A. Ayala
Spotter: Inspector R. Reynolds
Barge 2 – White Barge
Crew Chief: Supervising Inspector I. DeLeon
Wheel House: Supervising Inspector D. Connors
Spotter: Supervising Inspector L. Gorback
Barge 3 – Blue Barge
Crew Chief: Supervising Inspector F. Benjamin
Wheel House: Supervising Inspector O. Horton
Spotter: Supervising Inspector P. Pulisciano
Spotter: Supervising Inspector D. Crescenzo
Barge 4 – Gold Barge
Crew Chief: Supervising D. Franco
Wheel House: Inspector W. Burt
Spotter: Inspector F. Prokipchuk
Barge 5 – Silver Barge
Crew Chief: Supervising Inspector V. Singh
Wheel House: Supervising Inspector L. Romero
Spotter: Supervising Inspector A. Dushynsky
Barge 6 – Bronze Barge
Crew Chief: Deputy Chief Inspector M. Reardon
Wheel House: Deputy Chief Inspector J. Cruz
Spotter: Supervising Inspector N. Alexander
Spotter: Inspector M. Rivera