With summer heating up and Fourth of July less than one week away, fire officials are stressing “safe and sane” with regards to fireworks.

Joe Biller, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue chief, said inclement weather has been a godsend in past years, the cool and damp conditions effectively preventing fires. This year could be a tinderbox compared to previous Fourth of July celebrations.

“We already had an incident over the weekend involving illegal fireworks,” Biller said, adding that he hopes the incident is not a portent for combustible events to come.

Retail fireworks stands open today, with a plethora of regulations being disseminated locally and statewide. Only “safe and sane” fireworks purchased at state licensed stands will be allowed on Whidbey. Firecrackers, chasers, bottle rockets, missiles and rockets are legal only on tribal lands.

Biller said any fireworks with the capability of flying up to five-feet are generally illegal. While firecrackers account for the bulk of injuries due to negligence or misuse, the more erratic bottle rockets can be blamed for a majority of the fires.

“Bottle rockets are the main offender for starting fires,” he said.

More than 4,000 fireworks related incidents were reported to the State Fire Marshal between 2001 and 2005, an average of more than 800 each year. Nearly 50 percent of the injuries were sustained by children under the age of 14. Adults are urged to closely monitor the use of fireworks.

Oak Harbor Police Department Captain Rick Wallace said incidents involving fireworks related injuries and blazes started by fireworks have been relatively infrequent in the past, the numbers comparable to similarly sized cities in the region.

“It’s been fairly safe,” he said. “Hopefully that holds true this year.”

Fireworks may be discharged in areas with no bans or restrictions beginning today at noon and extending until 11 p.m.

June 29 through July 3, discharging is legal between noon and 11 p.m. with midnight set as the cutoff for July 4. Revelers may also finish off their fireworks stash on July 5 between 9 a.m and 11 p.m.

No fireworks may be discharged in Island County parks or state parks within the county, or on public properties where the regulations are posted.

While recreational fireworks users will have their own private shows, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce solicited just under $15,000 in funds from area businesses to put on a major Fourth of July fireworks display on Tuesday at 10 p.m. at Windjammer Park.

The South Whidbey community will enjoy its own colorful display one day earlier, July 3, with fireworks beginning on Monday at 10 p.m. in Freeland Park.

Russ Mudder will act as head pyrotechnician for the Oak Harbor fireworks display. He is currently seeking five volunteers to undergo a short apprenticeship program to certify the individuals as trainee pyrotechnicians.

Mudder can be reached at 914-7750.