My name is Gary Wayne Purrington. I was born on December 5, 1950, in Ogden Utah.
In 1958, my family and I moved from Ogden to Roy Utah, where at the age of 8, I was introduced to the construction of fireworks by my uncle Ed when we gathered every fourth of July to make them. Not much ever worked but I was fascinated by their components and construction. That meager beginning took me on a journey that would last a lifetime. Back then, anyone could order chemicals and materials for making fireworks, that is, until the Child Protection Act was passed in 1966. I often wonder what life would have been like for me if uncle Ed had brought hot dogs and potato salad instead of chemicals to our Fourth of July celebrations……
My wife and I moved to Pocatello, Idaho in August of 1974, and eventually In 1980, started what would become Firefox Enterprises LLC, a chemical and materials supplier to the trade, later adding a ProtoLabs Division to design and fabricate devices including, but not limited to; the movie/theatrical industry, U.S. government (Navy Seals, Coast Guard, and FBI), aerospace companies, and we even had the privilege of designing and supplying materials to Clinton era former Secretary of State Madelyn Albrights’ security team! Wow huh? Visit our Time Machine for photos of a few other designs we have created;
Each of our three boys, Brandon, Bryson and Skyler worked for us, Brandon and Bryson eventually moving away, starting families of their own. Our youngest, Skyler is still with us here and, with Diane's passing, is now our office manager. His duties include....................everything! Working with me, he has deservedly earned the title of pyrotechnicion.
As members of the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI), and the Western Pyrotechnics Association (WPA), we vended materials at their conventions, meeting with old friends and new in the industry.
My wife Diane passed on February 2, 2022 which devastated our family and business. She was the life blood for both that cannot be replaced.
A look back............................
1958
As stated above, my background in pyrotechnics and special effects started at the tender age of eight where my favorite uncle would allow us to help him make rockets and other devices at our family gathering every fourth of July. Back then, we didn't realize they weren't always working as intended, but the sparkle, hiss and smoke excited us all the same. Apart from my siblings, the experience locked my brain into pyrotechnic overdrive that will last my entire lifetime.
The years following 1958 brought a lot of experience as there was an abundant supply of chemicals for the asking. No questions asked and no age requirement, they were easy to obtain from a host of mail order chemical suppliers and the local drug store. I had many jobs mowing lawns, walking Siberian Huskies, picking fruit and the like to feed my addiction. My experiments started to take on new meaning as I mastered each project and moved on to the next. Although I have always favored high power rocketry and smoke devices, no particular subject held all my interest, I would get bored and move into a completely different class of devices. I wanted to learn it all................I'm still working on that 65 years later!
1966
For those of us that were there, the drafting and induction of the Child Protection Act changed everything. Although they never held much of my interest, no longer could you buy cherry bombs and salutes, but my personal firework favorite, the colorful Cracker Balls (torpedoes) were outlawed as well. Companies that sold kits to make exploding fireworks suddenly disappeared. Along with changes in the fireworks laws came changes in the legal load limits for imported and domestic fireworks alike. We all live with these regulations today.
1980
With chemical suppliers dwindling for one reason or another (usually government intervention), and those remaining increasing their prices for lack of competition, my wife and I decided to start purchasing in bulk and repackaging for sale at more reasonable prices. An income tax return and a lot of sourcing inventory and legal requirements, both state and federal, and we had our business, as small as it was.
The years to come have seen sharp increases in our sales and with them, increases in the diversity of materials we supplied. We found ourselves securing suitable storage and operating space as the business grew.
1990
The 90's brought interest from a variety of contractors seeking design and manufacture of special purpose devices as well as those required in the special effects fields. Firefox would design the effect(s) then pass it on to one of many manufacturers we are acquainted with. For this, we charged nothing. It was always enough for me to design effects that were unique and see them put to use. Design is still my passion today, however, we no longer pass these projects on to others if we can handle the contract ourselves.
Then, The Dark Ages..................
2003
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) flexes its muscles and attacks pyrotechnic chemical suppliers to regulate materials used to make fireworks. As we all know, fireworks has always been on their hit list. This in view of the ATFE that states that the manufacture of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices as a hobby for your own use and not for resale is legal and required no federal permit. The CPSC on the other hand, used the Federal Hazardous Substance Act as their weapon of choice. With this, they were able to put several suppliers out of business permanently. Seems they can change the regulations any time they want, and mold the FHSA to include anything they want. What happened to our rights, such as our civil rights and the right to free enterprise?
2004
The CPSC moves forward and files an injunction against Firefox. They sent in inspectors from ATFE, DOT, FAA, local fire department, and others to go through virtually everything but found no violations! Since they could file no criminal charges, a civil suit was filed. With donations and the backing of the Fireworks Foundation, we fought the suit for several long years but got nowhere. My wife and I lost our life savings. I always thought a judge, federal or otherwise, should be fair and impartial to both parties but I was wrong. I got a VERY good look at our so-called justice system up close. Firefox must comply with the federal ruling permanently, but we are the only company that has to! Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? This suit was nothing more than a vendetta by the CPSC to put us out of business because we decided to fight for our mutual civil rights. According to the CPSC, an ATFE manufacturing permit will keep you safe (although I don't see how) and you must have one to order several items as listed on our Rules page, although the ATFE states you don't. Remember, the ATFE stated you didn't need a permit to construct pyrotechnic devices for your own use, and not for resale, but don't bother trying to get their assistance in this matter or call the CPSC to lodge a complaint. Unless the CPSC decides to change their regulations (highly doubtful), we must all live with them. The CPSC needs to stay in it's own lane, like checking for lead paint on imported toys!! It isn't their job to regulate the explosives industry! According to the ATFE, that job is already taken!
2015
We are still here helping others realize their potential, teach their children the art, and to respect and preserve pyrotechnics for their future. We all still have a few civil liberties.....for now anyway, but they will never break our spirit!
2018
And now.............Homeland Security..............
