PORT ANGELES — His fascination with fireworks started in second grade, when he began putting on neighborhood shows using punks to light smoke bombs and snakes.
As Colin Bradley matured, so did his interest in fireworks.
“At first I was hoping this was just a phase,” says his mother, Tami Barlow.
“But it continued and I supported him. He made it easy because he was so safe about it.”
Bradley, 18, a recent graduate of Port Angeles High School, will ignite the 10- to 15-minute display he designed for friends, family and members of his church tonight.
“I have always been interested in fireworks,” he says, “and will major in chemistry to continue studying the chemistry and science of fireworks.”
Tonight’s display will feature $4,000 worth of consumer fireworks — the “safe and sane” varieties available at parking lot booths — using a remotely operated firing panel to ignite fuses.
Bradley said he will spend most of the Fourth of July setting up the display and running tests to make sure everything is working properly.
He said the public is invited to attend his fireworks show in the Olympic Vineyard Christian Fellowship parking lot, 3415 S. Peabody St.
The display will start at about 10:30 p.m., about a half-hour after the launch of the Port Angeles fireworks show over the harbor.
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