New Haven Independent

Out at a loading dock in the New Haven Harbor Friday, a handful of workers from Pyro/Fx Entertainment of East Haven scurried around a rented barge, preparing to arrange, wire and blow up thousands of fireworks for the evening show. As on July Fourth, when bad weather forced the city to abort the annual ritual, ominous clouds hung over the city Friday as the crew prepared for a belated celebration before hundreds of viewers along Long Wharf.

Before any sparks hit the sky, the crew needed the blessing of New Haven Fire Marshal Joe Cappucci (pictured). He stopped by the barge several times Friday to inspect the highly charged vessel.

Cappucci made his way past port security, past the new guards introduced after 9/11, and walked out the long dock to the barge. The barge, parked at the PSFG terminal, was packed with 2,500 to 3,000 explosive shells. Cappucci’s job for the last 10 years has been to make sure everything’s in place — that the right shells sit in the right casings, so that there are no surprises during the show.

The fireworks lay stored in Dumpsters, held down with sand bags for stability. Later that day, each firework would be connected to a computer through an elaborate wiring system, set up to synchronize with the music from WYBC 1340AM. When it’s time for the show, explained the fire mashal, the pyro crew presses “go” on the computer, and the sparks fly.

The crew hadn’t yet hooked up all the wires as of 4 p.m. Good thing: Moments after Cappucci’s arrival, the sky opened up with heavy rain. The crew whipped out tarps and covered the goods. Cappucci and this reporter rushed back to his car.

Luckily for fireworks-seekers who missed out on the Fourth, the storm passed. Within a couple of hours, the barge could be seen anchored in the middle of the harbor, ready to put on what turned out to be a successful fireworks show.