As families across Massachusetts prepare to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, public safety officials are warning residents to leave fireworks to the professionals.

Each year, State Fire Marshall’s Office Spokesperson Jake Wark said emergency personnel respond to anywhere between 30 and 50 firework-related incidents in Massachusetts on Independence Day. He said there were 43 emergency room visits statewide in 2025, a 23% increase over the previous year.

“Last year on the Fourth of July, a man in his 70s was fatally injured while shooting off illegal fireworks near his house — that’s obviously an extreme example, but we see between 30 and 50 emergency department visits each year related to illegal fireworks,” Wark said.

The number of visits has “certainly calmed down” since the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 when the number of incidents peaked, Wark said. “We want to keep that going, but we are seeing a slight increase over the past couple of years,” he said.

Of the 188 fireworks-related visits to Massachusetts emergency departments from 2021 to 2025, 121 took place in July, according to a written statement from the Fire Marshal’s office. July also accounted for 253 of the 486 fires and explosions caused by fireworks during the same five-year period. In addition to the 43 ER visits, there were 112 fires and explosions.

“Here in Massachusetts, fireworks have caused nearly 500 fires and explosions, almost 200 serious injuries, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage over the past five years,” State Fire Marshal Jon Davine wrote in the statement. “Tragically, one man even lost his life last summer. Please don’t risk a fire, an injury, or a day in court — leave fireworks to the professionals.”

Massachusetts, which stands as the only state in the country to enact a complete ban of consumer fireworks, first made them illegal in 1943 as a wartime measure. The law requires police to seize any illegal fireworks they encounter in the course of their duties. This includes fireworks that were purchased lawfully in another state and transported to into the Bay State. People who use or possess them illegally are also subject to a fine, while the unlawful sale of fireworks is an arrestable offense that carries potential jail time.

The law is effective: the Massachusetts fireworks injury rate is about one-fifth the national average, and the rate of fires and explosions is about one-sixth the national average.

Whether its Roman candles or sparklers, fireworks are illegal to possess, sell or use without a license in Massachusetts, bringing about a challenge for law enforcement.

State Police Lt. Patrick McStay said that while the mere possession of fireworks is not an arrestable offense, those caught with fireworks in Massachusetts will face confiscation and a fine. He added that additional charges such as disturbing the peace can be brought on individuals, depending on how and where they are setting off fireworks.

In anticipation of Independence Day, McStay said troopers stationed near the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border have been advised to keep their eyes peeled for fireworks on the highway during routine traffic stops.

“We’re just pretty vigilant on the borders … Sometimes you stop a car for speeding or a plate light out, and there’s fireworks in the car, because people go up to buy them. Usually, they buy a ton of them, not just a pack of firecrackers,” he said. “Most of that stuff is in plain view when you stop a car, so, we just look around the holidays for cars. They’re usually located during motor vehicle stops, and then also when you’re lighting them off, the public will call [the police].”

McStay explained that the general public is less likely to call the police to report the sound of fireworks around the Fourth of July than they would be throughout the rest of the year, noting that since the general public is less experienced with fireworks than those who live in states where they’re legal, they’re more prone to accidents.

While Wark said all fireworks can be dangerous, he noted that sparklers are particularly dangerous, given the false sense of safety people tend to feel around them. He noted that for children under 15, sparklers were involved in the majority of firework-related injuries.

“Some folks may think that sparklers are safe to use, because they’re not shooting that pyrotechnic out. They are, as I said, extremely hot — certainly hot enough to cause a serious burn or a traumatic injury,” Wark said. “Over time, we’ve seen that the most commonly injured users are children under 15 and especially children under 5, because they don’t recognize how hot they are, and will touch them even when they’re hot enough to badly burn skin.”

Alcohol consumption , McStay added, also plays a role in a significant number of fireworks-related injuries that occur around Independence Day. He noted that there are numerous safe fireworks shows in Massachusetts this year available for those who wish to celebrate the Fourth.

“The safest way to celebrate the Fourth is just to go to professional fireworks display and, leave the fireworks to the experts. Be an adult, be a good example for your children,” McStay said. “Bring them to a fireworks show and leave it to the professionals. They’ll have a much better time, and you’ll save all your limbs.”