(RALEIGH) -- The state Fire Marshall's office is warning about the dangers of using fireworks during this holiday weekend. Fire safety and medical officials say fireworks are dangerous, even if they are bought legally.

Spokesperson Kerry Hall points out that that sparklers burn at 1,200 degrees - six times the temperature it takes to boil water. She says people often underestimate how dangerous fireworks can be. "A lot of people falsely believe that because sparklers and other similar fireworks are legal and they're readily available that they're safe. And too often it's these small, consumer fireworks that start fires or cause serious burn injuries.

Hall says 8,600 people were sent to emergency rooms last year because of accidents involving fireworks.