GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While most will be gazing skyward to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July, Ryan Allen plans on relaxing with his feet up while hamburgers sizzle on the grill a few steps away.

He’s had a close view of fireworks shows most of his life, so the last thing he wants to do is take time away from his unexpected and much-needed time off.

The owner of North Florida Pyrotechnics put on a show for RiverFest on Memorial Day and will have three private shows on three nights leading up to Tuesday. After that, he’s looking forward to peace and quiet.

“I’m taking the day off,” he said. “It’s for personal reasons and my family. It’s a good choice since the Fourth falls on a Tuesday this year. It’s the first time I’ve had a Fourth off in quite some time.”

Allen is one of the few licensed pyrotechnics in Northeast Florida. It is a unique occupation that requires skill and attention. And as long as people like to watch and hear exploding mortars, his work will always be in demand.

“Because there are so few of us that do it, we are in high demand,” the Green Cove Springs resident said. “We’re all in the same boat. We can pick and choose what we want.”

The COVID shutdowns threatened the profession – not just because organizations and municipalities decided not to gather, but because it became increasingly difficult to buy fireworks from overseas. Things are finally returning to normal, Allen said.

Changes in Florida law now make it legal for residents to set off their fireworks. Three years ago, people had to sign a declaration fireworks were necessary to scare off birds and animals from crops. Gov. Ron DeSantis changed that with a bill that allows detonation on just three days – Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Non-professional pyrotechnics will allow fireworks on the three selected days, including firecrackers, torpedoes, Dago bombs, Roman candles and Skyrockets.

Fireworks that are permissible all year include snakes, smoke bombs, party poppers and noisemakers.

While Allen knows there always will be a demand for a massive show like RiverFest, so he’s not concerned about competition from a neighborhood gathering. He is, however, concerned about safety.

“I’m a big stickler on firework safety,” he said. “There are some important pointers for anyone who’s going to go out there and buy fireworks. I remember reading a story read a story (two) years ago where some gentleman went out and bought a pretty good amount of fireworks. And they shot them all, put their huge cakes and fireworks and devices in the trash can, and put the trash can in their garage.”

The result was a heavily damaged home in the Eagle Landing area of Oakleaf.

“There’s a simple solution. This is what I do: I take a five-gallon bucket when we celebrate my children, and we fill it with water. We put the used shells in the water and put him in a big trash bag. After that, I take the bag to the street. Even if one of the wet shells starts to burn, it’s at the street and not in the house. There’s almost zero probability it will burn. You don’t realize that these things are dangerous until you get burned, right?”

Allen also said residents should pick up the used wadding and sticks from other neighbors’ yards.

After spending summers with his grandparents at Orange Beach, Alabama, Allen realized he wanted to be around fireworks. He watched large displays over the Gulf of Mexico on holidays.

“And that’s what I did,” he said.

While Allen will be taking the Fourth off, he will be back at RiverFest next year, launching colorful missiles from a barge over the St. Johns River.