Fireworks are fun to look at when set off during a professional display, but they can cause more problems than excitement when consumers acquire and launch them illegally.

Roughly 15 fireworks-related injuries from consumer-grade fireworks were reported across Massachusetts for July 2-3, according to Sgt. William Qualls of the State Police Bomb Squad, which is affiliated with the State Fire Marshal's office.

One of those injuries occurred in East Wareham on July 3, when static electricity caused fireworks packed into the bed of a pick-up truck to ignite. One person was injured and the fire spread to a nearby home, said Wareham Fire Department investigator John Kelley.

"This is an example of why, from the fire service, we can't condone ... [a] change to the regulations, simply because people get hurt by this stuff," said Wareham Fire Chief Robert McDuffy.

All types of fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts. After firefighters responded to the scene, they called the State Police Bomb Squad in to remove the remaining fireworks - estimated to be a couple hundred pounds - to prevent any additional injuries.

McDuffy noted that when citizens acquire fireworks illegally, "there's no quality control." For example, if fireworks get wet and dry out, they become more sensitive and more dangerous. With no quality control, there's no way for citizens to know exactly what they're buying, he said.

The confiscated fireworks were stored in a safe location until Thursday, July 7, when the bomb squad and the Wareham Fire Department conducted a controlled burn of the explosives in an area behind Municipal Maintenance on Charge Pond Road.

"We're dealing with bad product, so we have to take all the necessary precautions," said Qualls, standing next to the "burn pan," a pit containing the fireworks, which were surrounded by wooden pallets, hay to help with combustion, and chicken wire to help contain "kick-outs" of material from the blast.

"We are going to have some kick-outs," Qualls explained. "It's just the nature of the beast. There's only so much that we can contain."

After securing the fireworks and materials, the bomb squad ignited the "burn pan," safely destroying the fireworks. Authorities monitored the site for about an hour to ensure no additional fires were started as a result of the fireworks.

"This stuff is very dangerous," said Trooper Michael Peters, again pointing out that static electricity caused the July 3 incident. "We don't legalize it for a reason."

McDuffy thanked the State Police and Wareham Police, along with Town Administrator Mark Andrews and Municipal Maintenance Director Mark Gifford for the use of the land for the burn, as well as Wareham EMS for standing by in case of any injuries.

"We don't want to rain on [anyone's] parade here," Peters said. "The bottom line is we're trying to keep people safe."

Check out video of the controlled burn below!