In the classic movie “A Christmas Story,” young Ralphie’s mother warns him about the dangers of BB guns: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

I’d like to share advice that better suits the summer’s main holiday, the Fourth of July: Don’t blow off your fingers.

Federal Way law prohibits the lighting of illegal fireworks within city limits. For some thrill-seekers, that rule carries as much weight as a freeway’s speed limit.

For the first time in years, I purchased fireworks — and temporarily ignited my long-dormant penchant for pyrotechnics.

As an adolescent, fireworks provided the ultimate rush for our group of friends. I’m amazed none of us ever caught our houses, or ourselves, on fire. We’d saw off the ends of plastic baseball bats and launch bottle rockets. We’d tape “jumping jacks” to just about any toy we could find, just to watch it melt. Some friends shot at each other with Roman candles, but I wasn’t that brave. I just preferred gazing at the sparkled path of a bottle rocket’s trajectory as it climbed upward before dying in a muted burst.

As our staff planned stories about fireworks for today’s paper, images of explosions and multi-colored sparks filled my head. I envisioned a watermelon bursting like a supernova, and was eager to capture on camera a still image of the blast’s first breath.

While brainstorming ways to illustrate these articles, I searched Google Images for “firecracker.” The first photo to pop up? A man who died after an M-100 exploded in his mouth and erased his face. Another fireworks-related photo showed flesh hanging from the bloody bones of a man’s hand.

These random scenes of destruction haunted me as I lighted a strand of Black Cat firecrackers in the backyard last weekend. Although tame compared to explosives that better resemble dynamite, these firecrackers made me unusually nervous. Deafening pops broke the evening silence as sparks shot from the firecrackers, emitting trademark clouds of smoke with a metallic smell that’s oddly appealing upon first whiff.

We heard a neighbor cheer from the other side of the fence after these firecrackers ran their course. Instead of riding the adrenaline train to the next strip of firecrackers, I shelved the rest of these gunpowder-filled toys — in a paper sack, in the garage and away from my hands. It’s not the fireworks I mistrust, but rather a random act of carelessness that could strike at any time.

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s office reported 160 fireworks-related injuries in 2007. That number included 49 children under age 14. But to look at it another way, that number included 111 injuries to people over age 14.

Fireworks offer cheap thrills to all ages. However, the best way to enjoy them is from a distance — in other words, by watching a professional fireworks show.

For those who insist on performing their own fireworks show, check out some online photos of fireworks accidents. Then cross your fingers and hope for an injury-free evening.

Mirror editor Andy Hobbs: editor@fedwaymirror.com.