WASHINGTON - D.C. authorities are pledging to get tougher this year in their annual battle against illegal fireworks in the city.

While D.C. code limits residents to sparklers and fizzing, sparkling devices that remain on the ground -- no firecrackers -- city residents know the reality is much different.

Neighborhood listservs are already filled with reports of pre-Independence Day shows, like one at midnight last night at 11th and C streets NE.

"I heard fireworks and I got up, looked out the window and it wasn't just someone blowing off a firecracker, it was like the whole display," said Adina Wadsworth. "Like bombs bursting in in the air. You know, the good ones."

While D.C. offers the annual PBS "A Capitol Fourth" spectacular on the National Mall, many residents prefer to create there own, including Calvin Scott Sr and his 9-year-old son, Calvin Junior.

"Come out here and we just shoot fireworks until 1, 2 O'Clock in the morning," the elder Scott said. "I mean, we have friends that go to North Carolina, pick up hundreds and hundreds of cases of fireworks. Believe it or not, we just sit out here and have an excellent time."

"We're going to shoot fireworks," he said, his son interrupting to question the wisdom of telling the world about their plans. "It's just something that's, you know, tradition," the elder Scott continued.

The fire department does not hide the fact it does not like any fireworks, especially the illegal ones. Authorities say their crackdown will be extra tough this year

"We're working extra inspectors, we're partnering with the Metropolitan Police Department (web | news) . Our fire investigators are out there working in the streets," said acting Fire Marshal Bruce Faust.

Despite the fire department's best efforts, many neighborhood residents have their own Fourth of July tradition to deal with the noise -- fleeing town.

"We just leave for the Fourth of July now," said resident Everett Volk. "We leave town."

There are 60 legal, licensed fireworks stands in the District.

Councilman Jim Graham tried to have all fireworks banned last year. His bid failed.

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