My name is Colin Bradley and I'm originally from Port Angeles, a small town on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. I've always loved drawing, computers, physics, chemistry, and fireworks.

Starting in about 1996, when I was 11, I began putting on small consumer firework displays in my neighborhood on July 4th, each one gradually increasing in size and complexity. During those years I developed countless tips and hints for improving the safety and aesthetic value of consumer firework displays, including what fireworks to use, how to choose a location, how to arrange and safety ignite them, and much more. I've learned a lot about both consumer and display pyrotechnics, from how they are made to how the chemical reactions work when they function. I created this web page in 2001 so I could share this knowledge with others who are interested in fireworks and want to learn more about them, and even put on their own show. Since about 2004, my primary focus on this site has been the establishment, growth, and maintanence of the Pyro Universe Forum Community, which has accumulated thousands of members from across the world and become an extensive collection of fireworks knowledge.


I owe the inspiration for the creation of this site to Bob Weaver of fireworksland.com. I received an autographed copy of his 1995 book "Fireworks for Everyone" as a present for my 13th birthday, and spent the entire summer reading it over and over again, along with his (unfortunately) short-lived PYRO magazine series.

I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Western Washington University. I hope to eventually work in the explosives industry as a research chemist.