BOSTON — Thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks were seized last week in Massachusetts, police say.

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According to WFXT, Massachusetts State Police troopers seized thousands of dollars worth of fireworks from multiple motorists who made out-of-state purchases prior to the Fourth of July holiday.

WFXT said that between Friday and Sunday last weekend, around 18 people were given “summons to appear in court to face charges of illegal possession of fireworks” following multiple traffic stops.

According to MSP, troopers seized about 425 items, which includes aerial shells, cakes, large rockets, fountains, sparklers and other types of fireworks that cost about $8,000 on Friday. The following day, troopers seized roughly 654 firework items that cost about $10,000. On Sunday, troopers seized about 501 firework items totaling about $10,000.

Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said on Twitter that Massachusetts law requires the confiscation of illegal fireworks.

“Officials emphasized that fireworks, including sparklers and firecrackers, are especially unsafe around children. Sparklers burn at temperatures of over 1,800° Fahrenheit – hotter than the melting point of glass and aluminum. According to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 1,600 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 900 with sparklers were reported in 2020, accounting for almost 10% of all fireworks-related injuries that year. Of the 900 injuries from sparklers, 44% were to children under the age 5,” according to MSP.

The MSP said all of the seized fireworks will be secured and will eventually be destroyed.

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