The news that a local man has been arrested for allegedly being in possession of a pipe bomb may underscore a new wrinkle in July 4th revelry: exploding especially dangerous homemade fireworks.

Every year police and fire departments issue routine precautions about fireworks, but little has been said about the home grown variety. That may be about to change; news reports from around the state reveal a disturbing trend.

About 9 p.m. on Independence Day, a 20-year-old Lima man was seriously injured near Dillon when a homemade "sparkler bomb" exploded. Debris from the blast struck the man in the neck, breaking two of his vertebrae and possibly paralyzing him.

Later that night in Great Falls another young man lost most of his right hand after lighting an explosive made by a 16-year-old boy. All that remained of his hand was the man's little finger. The boy was charged with criminal endangerment.

Police said another Great Falls man lost his thumb in a similar explosion last week. "We saw more injuries because of the increase in homemade fireworks," an officer said.

Enjoying things that go boom in the night has long been an important July 4th tradition. But let's hope we're not starting a new tradition of making the fireworks ourselves.