Pyromight: Fireworks Setup @ La Ronde

Here is a sky view of 4 of the 5 ramps at La Ronde for the largest international fireworks competition in the world. Not only is it the largest competition, but also the largest firing ramps available in North America. All fireworks are electronically fired.

In this photo, it shows each ramp in different colors. Ramp 3 is used for roman candles, mines, nautical effects, fountains and more. Ramp 4 is a structure housing with a huge module that allows for the display to be fired electronically. A cable is passed underwater across the lake and to the firing house, the roof can be used for several products like mines, gerbs, fountains and lances. Ramp 2 is for 3-4 inch shells of all sorts, it can also be used for roman candles, mines and cakes. Ramp 1 is where the large caliber shells are setup. Shells from 4 to 12 inches in size are put farthest away from the audience and closer to the river in where the shell will not harm anything when burning particles, ash or debris are falling. An estimated 300 tonnes of sand is used to bury the mortars in place. And over 600 feet of aluminium foil and plastic are used to cover the mortars.

Here's a closer shot of Ramp 4, you can easily notice that some fireworks are setup on the left of the photo.

Photo taken by Simon Turcotte-Langevin @ logiquefloue.ca (used under permission)

This is Ramp 3, a floating "bridge" used for fireworks. It is the closest ramp towards the audience besides Ramp 5 which is even closer and is on floating platoons.

Photo taken by Simon Turcotte-Langevin @ logiquefloue.ca (used under permission)

Ramp 2 has over 1,000 shells setup every display. The average quantity of fireworks fired in every display (including all ramps) is estimated at 4-6,000 shells.

Photo taken by Simon Turcotte-Langevin @ logiquefloue.ca (used under permission)

Here is a close shot of Ramp 1, there are five areas like this along Ramp 1. In the front of the 6 foot tall blast-shield, shells from 4-6 inches are setup. There is a smaller blast-shield between the setup, where 6 inch shells are setup. Behind the concrete blast-shield, shells of 8-12 inches are fired. 8 inches being closer to the blast shield and 12 inches being more outwards towards the river (in this picture, the 12" mortars are closer to the trees on the right and the 4-6" mortars are closer to the trees on the left).

Click here to watch behinds the scenes footage of shells being fired on Ramp 1.