Posted Thursday, July 3rd --- 4:40pm

The fourth of July holiday is a time for bar-b-q's and fireworks. But, if you're setting off your own fireworks, you could end up with a hefty fine. The city of Madison fire department is teaming up with police officers to enforce laws that ban certain fireworks in the city following a record number of complaints last year. But, because fireworks are regulated by individual city ordinances, what is legal in one city, may not be legal in the next.

It's an American tradition, setting off fireworks on the fourth. Tricia Lloyd works at the fireworks stand off Monona Drive and says, "Our Rat-a-tat-tat's and our Pot Of Gold's are very popular... they do sparks and they crackle and all sorts of colors."

That along with the fire and brimstone allure people to firework tents across the state. Bob Stern says, "I like to go for the smaller stuff and just kind of light a bunch of stuff off instead of the big stuff." Stern and his son plan to set off their basket of fireworks after watching the professionals on Friday night. But the Madison fire department recommends you check with the city you live in to find out what's legal. Lori Wirth is with Madison fire and says, "As we go around, all of these illegal, illegal, illegal, sparklers are OK."

But be careful. Just because sparklers are legal in Madison doesn't mean all sparklers are. Once they pass about a foot in length, they become illegal. Wirth says, "In Madison, the only fireworks that are legal are sparklers, snakes, snaps, caps and party poppers, that's it."

Other cities, like Janesville allow a few more fireworks, like fountains, and smoke bombs. But, something to remember statewide, if it goes up and blows up, it's illegal.

And one more caution, always supervise your children. Wirth says, "Because they're sold in so many different places, parents generally have the misconception that they're fairly benign and that it shouldn't be too much damage... you're talking about pyrotechnics, you're talking about fire, you're talking about explosives, you're also talking about something that doesn't have a whole lot of quality control as to the construction."

To find out what fireworks are legal, you can check with your local fire department. Not a bad idea because fines for setting of illegal fireworks start at about $150 dollars and go clear up to $1,000.