Flickr user kevinthoule
You call 'em sparklers, I call 'em disappointments.

I know: What's a Fourth of July without a little sparkle?

And I'm not talking about those wimpy sparklers.

Still, all the same, if you had to pick a year to skip the fireworks-at-home festivities, this would be a wise one. 

Between the economy chowing down on our pocketbooks and the usual myriad of safety woes, setting off fireworks in incorporated and unincorporated parts of Beaufort County can cost you a $200 fine.

And to top matters off, despite recent rains, it's still quite dry out there from the drought and any fire that does take hold could lead to a much bigger fire display than anyone would ever want.

Burton Fire Chief Harry Rountree said he is looking at the issue of fireworks in a two-fold manner. "One -- it is unsafe, and two -- it is illegal. It starts fires and it injures people, especially children. The drought conditions at the present time make it especially dangerous, and we ask people to refrain from using any kind of fireworks."

Still, for all that bellyache of bad news, you can take solace in knowing that there's a myriad of free public shows to watch around the area — and there are details on all that over here.