Fireworks are an integral part of the Fourth of July. However, since purchasing most kinds of fireworks in Iowa is illegal, many Iowans cross the border to Missouri for the big noisemakers.

Kerry Jones, manager of Hale’s Fireworks in Eagleville, Mo., said the most popular firework is the “500 Gram Keg,” which contains over a pound of gunpowder.

Jones said most of his customers right now are coming from across state lines.

“[About] 90 percent of the people are coming from over the border,” he said. “Most of them are from Iowa and Minnesota.”

In Iowa, the only fully-legal fireworks are sparklers, snakes and smoke bombs, Jones said.

“The way Iowa law works is that fireworks are legal to own, but not to fire, so carrying them into Iowa from other states is not a problem,” Jones said.

Jones said fireworks used to be legal in Iowa, but have been outlawed.

“Now [Iowa] just loses hundreds of thousands of tax revenue dollars because of people coming here, taking them and shooting them off,” he said. “It’s the same with Minnesota.”

Jim Robinson, commander in the Ames Police Department, said that setting off fireworks in Iowa is a simple misdemeanor. Fines can run from $50 to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.

In Ames, using fireworks is banned as well, he said. The fine for discharging illegal fireworks is $50 for the first offense and $100 for each additional offense.

Robinson said fireworks aren’t a serious problem in Ames, however.

“I wouldn’t say it’s more of a problem than in any other community in Iowa,” he said.

Aaron DeLashmutt, Acting Sergeant in Investigations for the Department of Public Safety, said people with fireworks are usually cited and the fireworks taken.

“Usually what happens is we confiscate them, as long as people are decent about them,” he said. “Bottle rockets and Black Cats – they’re the most common ones. They’re just kind of all over.”

DeLashmutt said discharging fireworks isn’t usually in conjunction with other crimes.

“The biggest concern is people getting injured,” he said.

Nationwide, 9,500 people were injured because of fireworks in 2001, said Amy O’Brien, assistant director of Prevent Blindness Iowa.

“We are pretty fortunate that most consumer fireworks are outlawed,” she said.

However, even legal sparklers may pose a threat to those celebrating the Fourth of July, O’Brien said.

“Sparklers burn at 1,800 to 2,000 degrees, which is hot enough to melt gold,” she said.

O’Brien said there have been several recent incidents in Iowa in which people were killed when illegal fireworks were used irresponsibly.

“Last year, an 11-month-old and a 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy were killed in a fire when a bottle rocket was thrown into a house,” she said. “A couple of years ago in Des Moines, several girls were killed when a lit firework was thrown into their car.”

O’Brien said the safest way to enjoy fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend is by viewing professional displays operated by professionals.

“Professional fireworks displays are safer and more entertaining than amateur displays,” she said.

The Ames Jaycees is sponsoring Ames’ annual fireworks display, which will take place at Stuart Smith Park at dusk on July Fourth.