Fireworks have been the traditional evening event on the Fourth of July for hundreds of years.

"On the Fourth of July weekend alone, we have over 500 displays," said Damian DiCola, project manager for Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.

Zambelli specializes in large-scale professional displays such as the Fourth of July display at Pullman Park.

"We're looking at an even bigger and better show than we had last year," DiCola said.

The company will put on two more displays at the Butler BlueSox games on Friday and July 25.

The productions Zambelli puts on for large cities, weddings and other special events can cost from $25,000 to $100,000.

These fireworks displays are run by professionals who fashion each show depending on the event.

Each display is lined up and placed on mortar racks, lumber or mortar boxes.

They can be set off manually by one man or a group of men, by a computer or by an electric pin board. It all depends on the display.

"All of our display technicians are Zambelli certified, meaning they go to technician classes and/or they have state licenses depending on where they shoot," DiCola said.

Whether it is a larger display by Zambelli or retail fireworks, such as the ones sold by Phantom Fireworks, based in Youngstown, Ohio, all fireworks have safety regulations they must follow from the National Fire Protection Association, as well as each individual state.

"Our company unitizes a safety zone significantly greater than the NFPA regulator agency," DiCola said.

The NFPA requires professional fireworks be set off 70 feet away from spectators and parking per inch of shell size. However, Zambelli sets them off at least 100 feet away per inch of shell size.

Pennsylvania also has laws on buying fireworks to ensure safety.

Sparklers, toy pistols and other devices in which paper caps are used and contain 0.25 grains or less of explosive are permitted.

However, firecrackers, skyrockets, roman candles, aerial fireworks and others are prohibited for consumer purchase.

Phantom Fireworks Vice President William A. Weimer said it is time to change fireworks laws to provide for sensible and regulated use of all consumer fireworks.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2007 fireworks report, there were 9,800 fireworks-related injuries, up from 9,200 in 2006, but down from 11,000 in 2000.

Also according to the report, there were 260.1 million pounds of fireworks imported in 2007, 146.2 million pounds in 2000 and 272.2 million pounds in 2006.

That means from 2000 to 2006 there was a decrease in the number of injuries because of fireworks as the number of fireworks imported increased.

"When we say the products are getting safer, the products themselves intrinsically are safer today than they've ever been before," Wiemer said.

However, from 2006 to 2007 there was a small decrease in the number of fireworks sold with an increase in the number of injuries.

Phantom and other fireworks companies have been working with American Fireworks Standards Laboratory to test fireworks in China to ensure safety.

These testings, along with regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, help to make consumer fireworks safer.

"When you do have a fireworks injury, the likelihood of a product blowing up in your face or malfunctioning and someone getting injured because of that it is pretty low," Weimer said. "The likelihood is, if there is an injury with fireworks, unfortunately, it's due in most part to misuse or abuse of the product."