Annual Independence Day celebrations are typically associated with fireworks – both the big aerial displays and the “personal” kind.

Although local stores are selling personal fireworks, there is a ban in Fountain Hills on the use of most fireworks.

Two major issues revolve around fireworks – safety and wildfire potential.

Fountain Hills Rural/Metro Interim Fire Chief Randy Roberts said due to hot and dry conditions fire officials are not recommending people use fireworks at all.

Fountain Hills still bans the use in spite of the legal sales.

Novelty type fireworks such as sparklers and snakes are legal and can be used, although if there is a flame involved it is not recommended.

Fire officials across the state are taking a stand to restrict the use of fireworks this holiday due to the explosive danger.

As firefighters continue their efforts to stop wildfires burning in the Southwest, the public is reminded, with the Independence Day coming up, that shooting off fireworks is always prohibited on federal public lands and state trust lands in Arizona.

Dry conditions have prompted officials to issue fire restrictions and closures across much of Arizona prohibiting the use of any flame, including smoking, wood and charcoal fires, welding, and even using firearms in some areas. This applies to most parks and National Forest land.

Any spark has the potential to ignite a new fire, and sending fireworks into the air could have devastating effects.

The penalty for using fireworks on federal public lands and state trust lands ranges from a fine to imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. Any person found to be responsible for starting a wildfire could also be presented with the bill for putting out the fire.

This is the time of year that Arizona’s lands are most threatened by fire, and officials are urging people to not be part of the problem by using fireworks on federal public lands or state trust lands.

For additional information on current fire restrictions, call 1-877-864-6985, visit http://wildlandfire.az.gov/ or contact a local Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service office, National Park Service Visitor Center, Arizona State Forestry, or the Public Lands Information Center at (602) 417-9300.