If you’ve been setting them off before today you should have been fined. That’s the law. People who break the law are why the Marysville City Council was very close to banning the use of personal fireworks in the city after this year. They get complaints annually about obnoxious people who are drinking alcohol and setting off fireworks dangerously. People are injured. Litter is left everywhere, and it costs city residents money to clean it up. Pets get very scared because of all of the noise. And even veterans of combat can have issues, as it can sound like a war zone.

Illegal fireworks also are a problem, because people can purchase them close by at Boom City on the Tulalip Reservation. While they can be amazing to see, they also are very dangerous. That’s why they are illegal. And that’s why they are only supposed to be discharged on the reservation.

It must be noted here, though, that many of the so called safe and sane fireworks also can go up in the air and make loud noises – just not that booming sound that shakes our bones.

The biggest danger this year, of course, is how dry it is. The arsonists who threw flares out along Interstate 5 this week showed us all just how dry it is. At least 10 fires were started, and it took firefighters all afternoon to put out the blazes and be on the watch for hot spots to flare up again.

The fire department doesn’t want fireworks in the city. They are busy enough during most years, but this year there truly is a concern that more than just some grassy areas will catch fire.

“This is truly why we are emphasizing no fireworks this Fourth of July,” Fire Marshal Tom Maloney said.

The police department isn’t a fan of fireworks either. They have a hard time catching culprits because they have to see them in the act to cite them. Plus, there are so many complaints, it is hard for them to get to every call in time. Along with that, violators can just be down-right rude when cited.

We support the use of personal fireworks, but it must be done responsibly. If a bunch of fires occur today as a result of shooting off fireworks there is no doubt in our minds that the council will come back and ban their use in the future.

The only reason they didn’t do it this year is because an online survey showed more people in favor of fireworks than against. But the difference was not very much.

Marysville lights up every Fourth. It is spectacular to see. To make sure we get to continue to celebrate our freedom in the future in this way, please use your fireworks responsibly today.

In Arlington and Marysville, especially if you’ve already purchased your fireworks, a good solution might be to hang on to them until New Year’s Eve. Surely that will be a safer time to set them off.