For many people fireworks are what make the Fourth of July holiday, but the fiery fun comes with limits – very strict limits.

"In the city of Wausau, consumer-grade fireworks are legal, and by consumer grade fireworks I mean fireworks, as a rule of thumb, that do not leave the ground and do not explode,” said Ron Omernick of the Wausau Fire Department. "If they do leave the ground, or explode, you have to have a valid permit from a city official."

Basically that means the average person can get just enough bang for little bit of safe fun. You can always buy and light things like sparklers, fountains and poppers. It may not seem like much, but it is worth following the rules.

"If local officials discover that you are using fireworks that are illegal, you can be subject to not only a fine, but also court charges,” Omernick said.

In Wausau, the fire chief is the only person who can issue fireworks permits. Across the state, valid permits can be obtained only from certain city officials.