Women of Fire
By Rita Sutton
I hear a whisper of wind that swirls the sparks around me before I hear the whooomp and feel the vibrations of an aerial shell that has successfully ignited and launched. All is the way it should be. I quickly move down the row of mortars and pull off another safety cap. I light another fuse and the fire-cycle is repeated
When I hear the crowds whistle, clap and cheer, I know I have created a unique but brief work of art on the night canvas. I understand I will never get to see the painted sky at the time of creation, because I am the pyro-technician. I am also one of the few women over fifty that work in this field. Pyro work is an art outlet and healthy workout for my brain and body.
According to research less than 1% of pyro-technicians are women of fire over the age of fifty. I am not talking about the office workers or the event coordinators. I am talking about those of us that are addicted to the intense experience and the smell of the black powder that the pyro-world gives us. We lift racks and mortars. We set electronic matches into the shell fuses, we run wires/ cables, hand light shells and promote safety.
We use our asthma inhalers instead of giving up the thrill. We are lead operators and designers of shows. Many of us donate our time and talents in the pyro field, as our volunteer work. There is no age limit and if you have physical limitations these can be worked around with the proper leads.
We are part of an elite group of women around the globe who have the courage and mental resilience to be part of the Pyro-techniques community. We have the same pioneering spirit that launches females to the moon today, and sent our ancestors west. I am proud to be associated with one of the last women frontiers. I am a grandmother of four, who bakes cookies, baby-sits and works for NASA.
We are just women that hear the call and have felt the thrill of the fire. As for me, it began as a way to share something unique and special with my family. Now I want to be a part of the magic that joins Americans across the nation on the 4th of July. There are no picnics for me on July 4th and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The work is hot, dirty, tiring and I’m a little vain, just like every other soul. Therefore, after the sun had seen fit to burn off my sun screen and paint me a rosy pink, and the dripping sweat is dusted with black powder, I proudly view myself as a faux painting created by nature. That is, until the TV cameras arrive and my daughter kindly reminds me I look and smell “rough”. Then my hidden desire to be Miss America surfaces, and I send my son-in-law, who looks as bad as I do, to talk to the news media.
I’ve seen racks and cakes (a barrage of fireworks in a cardboard box) explode. I’ve been next to low breaks and have been burnt. Safety and encouraging other women are my focuses. I know of four other women that have said “If that woman can do it so can I.” Pyrotechnics is what keeps me young.
The next time you lift your eyes toward the sky to watch a fireworks display, remember those bursting stars may be touched by the hand of a woman that placed a little extra love in the show just for you.
Rita Sutton
Biography - Background
As a young girl being raised by a single mother I vowed my children would never miss out on a father, dance lessons or anything else. I kept this promise so much that not only was I a stay at home mom but I home-schooled my three children.
For extra income throughout the years. I created jobs that fit into our home-school schedule; catering, taught swimming lessons, been the Hardy’s biscuit lady, worked as a waitress. (Whatever fit my children’s schedule.)
For a break, I went to college at night. By the time my girls finished high school, I had a degree in Research Psychology and one in Education. I went to work for WILL Technology, as a contractor for NASA where I am Crew Procedure Writer for International Space Station.
See link: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/people/sutton_sherwin.html
All my life 4th of July celebrations included fireworks. At our house these events got so big that the neighbors contributed and watched. Soon it became apparent that the only way to grow our event was to do it professionally. (Not to mention, these were becoming a bit unsafe)
My husband and son-in-law found a school in Missouri. The town we shot our personal show at thought our show was better than their city show. We were asked to do the Cedar Bluff show the following year.
The boys needed help and I saw this as a way to be outside, sharing with the family, yet participate in the 4th of July celebration in a very special way. I was 49 years old and had had 14 surgeries before that. (including a back surgery) I was also recovering from jaw reconstruction (a horse kicked me in the face) and my doctor said I could not be close to the fireworks. So with my mouth wired shut I attended school and completed all my field training.
I helped with the electronic displays that were fired from a distance. Word of mouth increased our number of shows. We (our family and friends) each specialized and became show leads. I studied and received another certification from Pyrotechnical Guild International (PGI) that allows me to shoot international shows.
For my pyro, I have been selected to be in Who’s Who of Madison for the 2009 edition. I have been written about in our Local Newspaper, My College Alumni paper, Women Over 50 magazine, and now Goldivas.
First step is to know there will be a background investigation.
For My NASA work I have been featured in Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) News paper, selected by Ames Research Center for Honors relating to their Biomass Production Payload, received numerous achievement awards and was selected to represent MSFC on an International Board for Payload Standards.
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