Those thinking about celebrating the New Year with fireworks can find them on display in local stores, but be aware in Fountain Hills there is a ban on the use of most fireworks.

Fountain Hills Rural/Metro Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Dave Ott said state law allows the sale of fireworks two times a year – leading up to July 4th and the New Year.

Fountain Hills still bans the use in spite of the legal sales. Novelty type fireworks including some types of sparklers and snakes are legal and can be used, although if there is a flame involved it is not recommended.

Firecrackers and anything that launches upward to an explosion are not legal, according to Ott.

This time of year with lower temperatures and higher humidity there is less danger of an explosive wildfire but there is dead vegetation that will burn.

“That stuff is still pretty dry,” Ott said.

Even though the extreme wildfire danger may not be present there are still plenty of ways for fireworks to be an issue.

There are situations where people are setting their house on fire when burning fireworks debris fall onto the roof, according to Ott.

And of course weather and dry conditions have little impact on the danger of injury.

The Arizona State Fire Marshal’s Office tracks fireworks injuries and finds about a dozen reported injuries for each of the sales periods during the year. That is about two dozen injuries per year state-wide.