Inuvik (Jan 12/07) - Rick Lindsay knows how to put on a show and he should, as he's been working with fireworks for more than 20 years.

Lindsay is the safety officer for the Inuvik Fire Department. He is also one of three certified fireworks handlers in the town office stables.

This was one of the many fireworks showcased during the show at the Inuvik golf course site. Town employees were stationed far from the crowd and shot a wide array of bright, colourful lights - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

He shares the responsibility with fellow firefighters Ken Crocker and Scott Reid.

This year's show was for the 20th annual Sunrise festival. For the big event, Lindsay said the town opened its wallet wide for an extra $5,000.

"The show usually costs $10,000, but we went bigger this year," said Lindsay.

Although the extra money was well spent, Lindsay said a new holding rack was needed, which cost $3,500.

"The new racks are required by the government," said Lindsay.

The new racks are made of metal, which is a step up from the wooden racks used in previous years.

Lindsay remembers years ago, before racks were used at all.

"It was 1992, I was only an onlooker the festival, it was before I got involved," he said.

The tubes that held the fireworks were settled in snowbanks, side by side.

"One of the tubes flower-potted, which sent it flying into the one beside it, tipping it over," said Lindsay.

Flower-potting is when the shell explodes in the tube and shatters it.

"The stray firework was set off into a pile of fireworks that were to be used that night," said Lindsay. "Luckily no one was hurt."

The set up for this year's festival began on Saturday afternoon, when the Inuvik fire department brought the fireworks to the site.

Fire chief Al German said the new site at the golf course is a better choice than the previous site located near the river bank.

"The golf course is a good location and this year went well," said German.

German said the show planned for next year should be even better than this past weekend.

"The town celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008," said German.

Lindsay's work was not easy as each shell needed to be carefully placed in each tube, with a special fuse connecting the fireworks.

"It's called a Brazilian time fuse," said Lindsay. "It always burns at one inch per second. Safety is always our first concern with this show."