Rain during setup turned the opening cakes into duds at a timed start

domain

pyrotechnics, fireworks display, event production

conditions

heavy rain during setup, product tarped or moved under shelter, client requested countdown start

date

2026-07-01

location

Blue Mountain, Ontario

source

first-hand, as supervisor in charge (the term used in Canadian display fireworks regulations)

Situation

Canada Day show. A couple of hours of heavy rain fell in the afternoon, during setup. Loaded product was tarped; unloaded product was moved into a ski racing start hut. Setup was finished after the rain passed. The client asked for a countdown to the start of the show, and I agreed.

What happened

When the countdown ended, the opening cake had been made a dud by water exposure. Several attempts failed to light it, and a second cake was also a dud. I called for the crew to light anything that would go up. There were roughly 5–10 seconds of empty sky after the countdown ended (from memory).

Lesson

If product has been exposed to rain during setup, don't agree to a timed or countdown start: you can't be sure the first item will fire on cue.

When this applies

Someone asking what to keep in mind when running a fireworks show after rain during setup, or whether to agree to a countdown start.