Bottle rockets.  Roman candles.  Firecrackers.

It’s all fair game this Fourth of July as the state enters its second year under the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, which expanded the kinds of fireworks available for sale and use.

There are many establishments, including tents outside various stores in the U.P., ready to help those looking for their own personal light show.  However, safety is a number one concern.

“I always tell them to just be careful with those things,” Joshua Brunette, from Glad Tidings Assembly of God said.  “Roman candles back in the day, kids used to shoot each other with them.  Don’t do that kind of stuff.  Be safe.  Have a safe Fourth of July.  We don’t want to start a fire or anything like that.”

State law allows local communities to regulate the use of fireworks on days other than before, during, and after national holidays. Houghton Police Department Lieutenant Nick Roberts said most of those municipalities have opted to limit the use of fireworks to those specific days while creating a quiet period.

“You can’t shoot them off between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., and the city does have ordinances that are in effect after that so you can’t shoot them off in the city unless it’s during a national holiday,” he said.

And, with bigger fireworks comes more danger.  The Michigan State Police is offering a few safety tips to prevent personal injury or property damage.

“Keep a bucket of water close by in case one malfunctions.  Don’t try relighting a firework if it hasn’t fully activated.  They can be very unpredictable.  Never let children play or tamper with fireworks.  They should be supervised at all times.  And of course, do them outside.  You never want to use fireworks inside of a structure,” MSP Negaunee Post First Lieutenant Robert Pernaski said.

Police say follow the rules and have fun because a safe Fourth of July is a good Fourth of July.