‘This is our favorite time of the year’: Sure Shot Fireworks finishing up prep for another big Pilot Butte Fireworks Show

(Update: Adding video, comments from Chris Mattison and Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The colorful, bombastic Pilot Butte Fireworks Show is just a day away, and Sure Shot Fireworks says they're excited, as always, to put on this year's show.

Work was underway at the top of Pilot Butte on Wednesday as crews began setting up for the big show. More than 1,200 shells and 15 pyrotechnics are part of this year's display.

"We are super-excited!" said Chris Mattison, who runs Sure Shot Fireworks, the company that's run the show since the beginning. "I mean, this is our favorite time of the year. Every year. Get to shoot off some fireworks!"

"It takes us about a full year to get everything set and make sure the product gets here on time, make sure that the orders are in, the prep is here, the planning and the safety," he said.

Last year, Chris and his brother took over the show after the death of their father, Gary Mattison. This is the second year without him; they'll continue to honor him with a big surprise.

"Dad's been wanting to do it. It's really hard to get one, it's really hard to get a 16-inch (mortar). And Dad has been always wanting to do that," Mattison said. "And last year was an emotional show, for him. You know, it was all dedicated to him. This year, we're breaking records."

Bend Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki says with fireworks as big as 16 inches, a lot of prep goes into ensuring the butte doesn't burn, and any fires are snuffed out fast.

"All those fireworks have different hazards that are up here," Derlacki said. "Just trying to treat them the same way. We just think there might be a little bit wider area that could catch on fire - or could not. It all depends on how that firework reacts and goes off, and we prepare for all of those."

The butte is hosed down for three days before the show, to ensure fires that are sparked don't grow. Four volunteer fire crews also will be on the scene, extinguishing any problems throughout the night.

Mattison says it's about a 30-pound difference between the massive 16-inch mortar and their smallest eight-inch mortar. The boom will be heard throughout the whole city

"We get up, we say a prayer and we look ahead and watch it - and bam! There she goes!"