To ensure that you purchase legal consumer fireworks, visit one of the many licensed fireworks stands operating during the Fourth of July fireworks sales period.  By state law, these stands are only allowed to sell state legal fireworks.

Don’t take any chances!  The Fourth of July only happens once a year! Stay away from high-powered, illegal explosive devices such as M-80s or homemade devices. These devices can cause life-altering injuries that can last a lifetime.

Top 10 signs that your fireworks may be illegal:

• ·They were not purchased from a Washington State licensed fireworks stand
• ·They were purchased through an online vendor, mail order, or online local listing
• ·The person selling you the fireworks tells you they were bought in another state
• ·They are not packaged in brightly colored paper
• ·They do not have any safety warnings or instructions on the packaging
• ·The packaging does not indicate the country of manufacture
• ·It resembles a roll of coins with a fuse coming out the side
• ·It is wrapped with plain brown paper
• ·It is solid red, silver, or brown in color
• ·It looks homemade: wrapped in electrical tape; fuse isn’t taped down

If you know where these illegal explosives devices are being sold, manufactured, or possessed, report it to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or to the local police department on a non-emergency phone number. Only call 911 to report emergencies.

Always remember to use the three “B‘s” of fireworks safety:

• Be Prepared – Have water nearby and put pets indoors
• Be Safe – Only adults should light fireworks
• Be Responsible – Clean up fireworks debris

By now you probably do not care if those fireworks are legal or not, you bought something cool to light off on the 4th and that is that.  But in case you are still wondering, are these things legal the WA State Fire Marshals Office has sent out this informational piece to help you out.