diff --git a/wled00/FX.cpp b/wled00/FX.cpp
index b602903f..5f9ad403 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX.cpp
@@ -3269,11 +3269,11 @@ uint16_t mode_exploding_fireworks(void)
   if (SEGENV.aux0 < 2) { //FLARE
     if (SEGENV.aux0 == 0) { //init flare
       flare->pos = 0;
-      flare->posX = strip.isMatrix ? random16(2,cols-1) : (SEGMENT.intensity > random8()); // will enable random firing side on 1D
+      flare->posX = strip.isMatrix ? random16(2,cols-3) : (SEGMENT.intensity > random8()); // will enable random firing side on 1D
       uint16_t peakHeight = 75 + random8(180); //0-255
       peakHeight = (peakHeight * (rows -1)) >> 8;
       flare->vel = sqrtf(-2.0f * gravity * peakHeight);
-      flare->velX = strip.isMatrix ? (random8(8)-4)/32.f : 0; // no X velocity on 1D
+      flare->velX = strip.isMatrix ? (random8(9)-4)/32.f : 0; // no X velocity on 1D
       flare->col = 255; //brightness
       SEGENV.aux0 = 1;
     }
@@ -3300,16 +3300,16 @@ uint16_t mode_exploding_fireworks(void)
      * Size is proportional to the height.
      */
     int nSparks = flare->pos + random8(4);
-    nSparks = constrain(nSparks, 1, numSparks);
+    nSparks = constrain(nSparks, 4, numSparks);
 
     // initialize sparks
     if (SEGENV.aux0 == 2) {
       for (int i = 1; i < nSparks; i++) {
         sparks[i].pos  = flare->pos;
         sparks[i].posX = flare->posX;
-        sparks[i].vel  = (float(random16(0, 20000)) / 10000.0f) - 0.9f; // from -0.9 to 1.1
+        sparks[i].vel  = (float(random16(20001)) / 10000.0f) - 0.9f; // from -0.9 to 1.1
         sparks[i].vel *= rows<32 ? 0.5f : 1; // reduce velocity for smaller strips
-        sparks[i].velX = strip.isMatrix ? (float(random16(0, 4000)) / 10000.0f) - 0.2f : 0; // from -0.2 to 0.2
+        sparks[i].velX = strip.isMatrix ? (float(random16(10001)) / 10000.0f) - 0.5f : 0; // from -0.5 to 0.5
         sparks[i].col  = 345;//abs(sparks[i].vel * 750.0); // set colors before scaling velocity to keep them bright
         //sparks[i].col = constrain(sparks[i].col, 0, 345);
         sparks[i].colIndex = random8();