The field is desolate, scattered with charred bits of cardboard and black circles of ash where mortars ignited and bottle rockets took off.

In a conversation with virtually any American about the Fourth of July, fireworks are bound to come up. The extravagant displays of multicolored pyrotechnics light up a night sky and highlight the celebratory mood of any festive event.

Even more, they're a staple of Independence Day — a symbol associated not only with the day itself but with the history of achieving the country's autonomy.

This great symbol of American pride, however, often overshadows the potential dangers of shooting fireworks in unregulated locations.

In a June 27 news release, the Seattle Police Department's (SPD)Media Relations Unit noted that in 2003 and 2004, an average of 9,650 people were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks. Of the 2004 injuries, 85 percent were caused by fireworks that federal regulations permit consumers to use.

A closer look shows that some Americans consider fireworks a component of their freedom as citizens.

"They are part of our right as citizens to properly celebrate our country's independence," said Matt, who requested his last name be withheld for legal reasons. Matt is the proprietor of BurnTime Fireworks on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation.

Meanwhile, many others believe fireworks are a nuisance.

"We encourage people to go see the public displays," said Helen Fitzpatrick, public information officer for the Seattle Fire Department (SPD). "Fireworks are illegal."

Fireworks offenses, including the possession, manufacture, storage and sale, are gross misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

A fact sheet provided by the SFD states that between January 2000 and December 2005, it responded to more than 123 fireworks-related fire incidents, 90 percent of which occurred during the month of July. The incidents cost an estimated $357,000 in damages.

In addition to being unlawful and costly, fireworks prove to have perilous consequences if used improperly.

According to the SFD fact sheet, "Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. Each and every one of these incidents could have been prevented."

The SFD stresses the importance of a fireworks-free Fourth of July, as a large amount of injuries occur each year due to misuse of fireworks. It said there are no "safe and sane" fireworks; in fact, sparklers, a firework perceived as "safe" for children, burn at temperatures more than 1000 F, which can cause severe burns.

Yet each year, many citizens disregard city officials' warnings, engaging in fireworks activities as their right to exercise and celebrate their freedom.

Boom City, located on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation across from the Muckleshoot Casino, where fireworks can be legally set off, attracts thousands of customers every summer. Only a half-hour drive from Seattle, Boom City is easily accessible and especially popular with patrons who live outside of the reservation.

Consisting of a few dozen individual stands, each with its own loosely set prices, Boom City has brought in a substantial draw for the past several years. The stands open in late May, but business peaks each year in the two weeks prior to July 4.

At Boom City, customers bounce from stand to stand, haggling for the best prices on fireworks. Many customers who come through are willing to spend big money, "often dropping three grand or so," said Kimberly Simon, an Auburn resident and an employee of the Original King George stand.

"People start coming in around 9 a.m., and our average sale is about $100," she said.

At BurnTime, a stand located just across a dirt road from Original King George, Matt and Glen, (who also asked to withold his last name) two exuberant employees, pride themselves on promoting the inherent freedom in celebrating America's independence.

"Don't let them take your freedom away, come blast your Independence Day away," shouted Matt as he giddily jumped about his stand.

While Boom City provides a large and empty dirt field for customers to burn away their purchases, many take their fireworks elsewhere, calmly disregarding the risk of being pulled over and having them confiscated.

Many of the customers see brighter celebrations on the horizon, lighting their purchases off at home in quiet suburban neighborhoods and proudly celebrating their love of this country by weighing patriotism over the law.

As fireworks enthusiasts and viewers join for a spectacle of lights this Independence Day, remember that patriotic symbolism comes with a price tag. Be safe and light off legally.