The 12-year-old Las Vegas resident is visiting family, and he's seen the destruction.

"In Vegas they have illegal fireworks shops, and there's a lot of fires right now," he said. "Some of them were started by fireworks."

That's why he bought only sparklers and Whistling Phantoms at Smith's Marketplace with his aunt Raemi Uquillas.

"These ones don't blow up or shoot into the air," Breau said. "They're safe."

Uquillas was happy with the choice, especially considering Gov. Jon Huntsman's urging of cities across the state to ban fireworks - a ban Salt Lake has not issued.

"There's always a concern in dry, dry areas," she said. "But, for the most part, these kinds of fireworks are pretty safe."

That's the message Ken Delfeld, vice president of store sales in the West and Midwest for TNT Fireworks, wants to get out. After speaking with Huntsman, new safety warning signs went up at stands at each store across the state, urging people to light fireworks in driveways or "barren areas."

"The main goal is to be safe," he said. "These fireworks are great because they're fountains and they don't shoot up into the sky. If we can keep people out of empty lots or in dry areas, we won't have a problem."

Though few people were buying large amounts of fireworks Saturday afternoon, fire-hazard concerns don't seem to be slowing down sales, he said.

The sales figures from this year are about equivalent to those a year ago.

"People are still interested in celebrating," Delfeld said.

And some people haven't really taken note of Huntsman's warnings.

Kim Brown bought only sparklers at Wal-Mart, but plans to gather with friends in West Jordan to light fountains and other fireworks.

"We haven't even discussed any fire concerns or really even thought about it," she said.

However, she and her friends light fireworks in driveways and on streetsides where fires are unlikely to occur. That's good news to Delfeld.

"We've been through dry weather before," he said. "People can still celebrate - they just need to do it safely."

smcfarland@sltrib.com