Disneyland Pyro Tech in serious trouble

[MickeyLumbo]

Disneyland Pyrotechnician in serious trouble


i worked with this guy for years as he handled the Special Effects for The Glory Of Christmas and Glory of Easter... Last year, while waiting to see Tink after the Tink Taco, i talked with him and learned that he is doing pyro for the Resort.

The cool effects like stretching room, Main Street Buildings and "shooting gallery" effects that richochet off the castle are signature talents of Rick.

he is a very nice guy and i always felt safe working near him and the various special effects on the set. i have to wonder if this situation has anything to do with the recent cancellations of Remember.

this video link takes several seconds to load:

http://kcbs.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=7808&tf=KCALvideo_player.tpl &PreloadContract_DefID=6&Contract_DefID=5&Category _ID=85


Fireworks Found; 12 Homes Evacuated

Investigators found three 40-foot trailers filled with professional-grade fireworks, detonating cord, which is commonly used in movie shoots, and binary explosives, used for mining.

By Mai Tran
Times Staff Writer

July 29, 2005

Authorities on Thursday removed or detonated more than 1,000 pounds of high-grade fireworks found the day before at a storage yard in Anaheim. Residents who had been evacuated remained away from their homes.

The bomb squad was called Wednesday when an employee inspected the rental unit in the 700 block of East La Palma Avenue and discovered explosives and detected a chemical odor, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department.

Investigators found three 40-foot trailers filled with professional-grade fireworks, detonating cord, which is commonly used in movie shoots, and binary explosives, used for mining.

In a series of explosions that were expected to last into Thursday night, they detonated the fireworks considered unstable. The rest are expected to be removed by Saturday, officials said.

"It's a painstaking process," Martinez said. "There were so much hazards in there."

Authorities evacuated 12 homes on Pauline Street, and residents in 12 others were given the option of evacuating.

Officials said the storage-yard employee was taking inventory of the items to sell after Robert Helgeson, 49, of Orange failed to pay rent.

Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anaheim police are investigating whether Helgeson, a licensed manufacturer of pyrotechnics for the movie industry, violated any laws.

Helgeson could not be reached for comment.
(his name is Rick)

[Not Afraid]

WOW!

So, is this what has been causing the cancellations? This information opens up a whole other book of questions for me.

Thanks for posting, Licky.

[MickeyLumbo]

i DO NOT know if this is what has caused the cancellations. (unless he was detained by authorities and not able to be at the Park)... i do know that he worked on the castle special effects and other cool stuff. he was always a really great guy to me and i always felt safe on his set. before the beginning of each run he would tour the fire marshall around and see to it that all was safe and legal. the problem here is not his possesion of the explosives, as he is licensed, it seems that the storage (Offsite) is illegal. the storage in question is not near Disneyland and poses no danger to Guests. i am sorry that he is in this situation.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

How sad. The guy has done some wonderful things for Disneyland. Looks like he has some major issues regarding fireworks. Who would stockpile them like that, right near where other people live? How could he endanger others like that?

[MickeyLumbo]

great questions, CP. i am equally puzzled. i had always thought of him as taking all safety precautions and leagl measures. from what i heard, these types of explosives would need to be stored out in the desert, away from populated areas... a long commute indeed.

[Not Afraid]

I'm sure there will be more revealed as the investigation progresses. I sure hope the questions can be answered easily.

[MickeyLumbo]

news video with Disneyland named... DLR Media Relations must be busy today


http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/ktla072905anaheimexplosions-wmv,0,6504567.wmvfile?coll=ktla-news-1

[Gn2Dlnd]

I pray to God they don't find my storage units filled with cheese.

[Not Afraid]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

I pray to God they don't find my storage units filled with cheese.

*Looks at the camera*

They're packed with high-quality, commercial grade, EXPLOSIVE flavor!