Adults are also showing more interest in the fireworks, particularly at wedding receptions. Strong firecrackers can cause damage to nearby buildings as well as injure people.

Saud Al-Anazi, a parent, said powerful firecrackers are being sold without any restriction even in small baqalas (street shops).

“Recently a boy suffered severe burns after playing with a firecracker he bought from a small baqala. He had to be rushed to hospital,” he said.

Abdullah Al-Khaledi, another parent, said: “Some of the firecrackers children play with fly like missiles and hit nearby apartments, posing fire hazards and terrifying residents.”

He said authorities should take immediate steps to check the sale of firecrackers.

A boy told Arab News that he saved money for the firecrackers from the money given by his mother for other things. Some times boys in neighborhood put together all their money to buy expensive firecrackers, which make great noise and produce more fire, and compete with boys in the adjoining neighborhood.

“I don’t see any danger in playing with fireworks. We take necessary precaution while playing with them. We set them on fire standing behind a dirt pile. None of us gets injured except rarely when a boy might get some burns when we use a very powerful firecracker,” the boy said.

Spokesman of Makkah Civil Defense Maj. Abdullah Al-Amri warned parents not to allow their children play with firecrackers because they caused serious burns.

“Parents should be more careful in the month of Ramadan when children are more likely to play with fireworks,” Al-Amri said.

He also urged the members of the public to inform police when they noticed any baqala selling firecrackers illegally.

A hospital source in Jeddah said more children are brought to hospital in Ramadan with burns caused by firecrackers.

“Burn injuries caused by fireworks could be either on face or hands. Sometimes they leave ugly marks on a child’s face, even after healing,” the source said.