VIDEO: Fireworks Are Dangerous and Illegal, Officials Say

In an effort to reduce the number of injuries and fires from illegal fireworks, Fire and Rescue officials today demonstrated just how dangerous those explosives can be by blowing up a few large melons.

Fire and Rescue Chief Richard Bowers said the Council of Governments Life Safety Subcommittee, which is comprised of fire officials from Maryland, DC and Virginia, is instituting the "You light it, we'll write it" campaign.

Fire and rescue personnel will patrol the street on July 4 confiscating illegal fireworks and writing citations.

The penalties vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

In the City of Alexandria, VA, using or selling fireworks is a Class One misdemeanor punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to 12 months in prison.

While there are a few types of legal fireworks in DC, generally any type that explodes is illegal. If you are caught using or having illegal fireworks you face up to a $2,000 fine.

In Montgomery County, all fireworks are illegal, and a citation carries a $500 fine.