Pyrotechnic pizzazz

Swan Lake man dazzles Lakeside with innovative display

Mike Martin taps his passion for pyrotechnics tonight to give lovers a little boost in the fireworks end of romance.

"My goal is that some couple, snuggling up, watching one of my displays, falls in love," he said with a laugh.

At 11 p.m., Martin lights up the sky over Flathead Lake with Fourth of July fireworks synchronized to music broadcast over the Monster, 103.9 FM. The public may view the show by parking anywhere in or near Lakeside.

This show, designed on a computer and launched with a state-of-the-art digital firing system, seems a dazzling universe away from Martin's early days of hand-lighting his first professional displays.

Martin, who lives in Swan Lake, credits his father with igniting his love of fireworks.

"My father did home stuff," he said.

To honor his dad's love of fireworks when he died in 1996, Martin put together a memorial display coordinated with music in a completely unique final salute that captured a lot of comment.

"That's when word got out," he said. "It started as a sideline."

Martin decided to expand his professional knowledge by attending a Pyrotechnics Guild International conference. He came home with the idea of starting Alpine Fireworks Club for fellow enthusiasts.

According to Martin, people seemed more interested joining the club to get a T-shirt, his newsletter and support his efforts rather than dabble in explosives themselves. So he continued taking workshops and eventually got licensed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"You have to have a license for the bigger stuff - display pyrotechnics," he said.

ALPINE Fireworks became a business in 2000 when he was approached by a local lodge to put on a display. Martin nailed the perfect phone number - 886-FUSE - but has yet to get a Web site off the ground.

For his first professional extravaganzas, Martin used the old-school hand-light and dash firing system. Yet, he still counts five fingers on each hand. He hasn't blown away any spectators either.

He credits meticulous adherence to safety standards.

"I'm very perfectionist," Martin said. "I won't do it if I don't feel it's safe."

Fireworks have evolved considerably since the first Independence Day celebration in 1777. At that time, the only colors were orange flash/spark from black powder and white sparks from metal powder.

Modern fireworks feature a huge assortment of colors plus animation as well as close-proximity pyrotechnics - special effects right under your nose.

Martin recently put on a close-proximity display at Majestic Valley Arena for Flathead High School's graduation. The school wanted a special send-off for the last big class.

"It was really cool," he said. "There were air bursts in the rafters. Picture orange snow with black lightning bolts."

Advances in electronics helped the industry bump up the special effects while increasing safety. Martin recently looked at the top 10 electronic firing systems, then purchased a new one for the Lakeside show.

"I went top of the line," he said.

The pyrotechnics specialist started working on the display last winter, beginning with music selected by Rudy Heinle, a Lakeside businessman who works with a loose-knit community committee including Deborah Newell and Kay Hopkins.

"I take that music and design around it," Martin said.

He uses software called ScriptMaker that allows him to "100 percent synchronize the display to music. Martin called the possibilities for fireworks nearly endless, from conglomerations he calls train wrecks for the guys to the sweet and romantic like a smiley-faced star for brides.

"I love doing weddings," he said. "We can do the salute right when they kiss."

He asks prospective clients for at least two months advanced notice as well as a deposit to put together a show. Martin said he designs for any budget but insurance costs provide less bang for the buck for low-cost shows.

"Insurance is extremely expensive, at least 10 to 15 percent of the cost," he said.

For insurance purposes, Martin sets up three or four cameras to record everything happening on the ground and in the sky as he puts on the display. He also stays close to the firing system to watch for fires or other problems.

TONIGHT'S Lakeside show provides a bigger logistic challenge since it fires from barge in Flathead Lake. But Martin said the new firing system allows about four minutes for his assistant to disembark after energizing the system.

A remote control provides an extra measure of safety.

"If you have a problem, you can shut the system down," Martin said.

Tonight marks the second year that Alpine Fireworks has put on the Lakeside show.

Martin has also contracted to launch the displays at the Northwest Montana Fair in August. He may use some close-proximity pyrotechnics to wow the fair crowd under the stadium awning, assuming weather cooperates.

"The fairgrounds display was shut down for fires last year," he said.

That's just one of the dilemmas Martin confronts since making a business using products made of paper, paste, string, gunpowder and various chemicals.

He also faces the annual complaints about noise, fire danger, scared pets and livestock.

Like other businesses, Martin deals with rising product costs. Fireworks are up about 15 percent this year. Supply problems may blow up, literally, overnight.

The industry suffered huge shortages this year when a fire in China this spring consumed a large part of the inventory destined for the U.S. shores.

In spite of the headaches, Martin's passion for lighting up the skies for lovers and others hasn't dimmed. He credits his career for bestowing eternal youth.

"I'm 45 but I look like I'm still 12. It's all due to fireworks," he said with a laugh.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com