NBC NEWS- For some they are as American as apple pie and freedom, but many people won't be free to shoot off fireworks this year.

States and towns across the country are banning fireworks saying the drought has made things so dry it is just too dangerous.

For many it wouldn't be the fourth without fireworks.

"Love all of the noise the sound and the glitter," said Trish Leazer of Mocksville, North Carolina.

But this year, in many places that glitter may be gone. Extreme drought and wildfires have forced officials across the country to impose new bans on backyard fireworks

"If one spark is all it's going to take to burn somebody's house down, what kind of celebration would that be,” said West Odessa Volunteer Fire Chief Jimmy Ellis.

And drought isn't the only thing putting a damper on this year's displays.

In February, a massive explosion destroyed 20 fireworks warehouses in China.

That caused a shortage in some places and driving prices up enough that some towns can't afford their annual shows this year.

But some say that slowdown in sales is good news for safety.

As always, officials are warning of the dangers even from something as simple as a sparkler.

"Sometimes you see a small child with a sparkler and those get up to 14-1600 degrees Fahrenheit so they are extremely white hot," said Indiana Assistant State Fire Marshall Jim Bennett.

Still, for many the shows will go on. They are an essential part of the celebration and their enthusiasm is unlikely to dim.

The National Fire Protection Association says more fires are reported on July 4th than any other day of the year.