HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY)-- The 4th of July can be a fun day of grilling, playing sports or watching a parade and some fireworks. While these activities can put on a spectacular display, they can also be very hazardous if the necessary safety precautions are not taken seriously. 

''You want to shoot these fireworks away from your house. You want to shoot it away from buildings, away from people and away from combustibles because they do come down and if you drop them into something combustible, they will burn,'' said Chief Sean Mcinerney of Town and Country Fire Department. 

By the law of physics, what goes up , must come down. Therefore, when you shoot fireworks into the sky, they will come down to the ground and if they interact with something that is combustible, they will start a fire.

''Vegetation not so much now because we had some rain and things have greened up. However, you get a nice warm day when things have dried out and you got some pine needles or you got some dried grass around, it can catch fire, '' said Chief Sean Mcinerney. 

It is tradition for people to barbecue with friends and family during the Fourth of July celebrations and these cookouts can happen simultaneously with fireworks display.  However, you should be wary of combustible objects during these cookouts like charcoal and cooking oil. 

''It is highly recommended for persons to have a fire extinguisher or a water hose handy in case a fire was to happen,'' said Chief Sean Mcinerney. 

Chief Mcinerney stressed that kids should not use fireworks, even under adult supervision, because getting seriously injured or even killed can be very easy. If you are interested in using these items, you should pay close attention to the rules and regulations within your town because they can vary. 

The only category of fireworks that is legal in N.Y. State is known as Sparkling Devices, but they are not legal in every county. However, the law limits the size, type and construction of Sparkling Devices.