With the Fourth of July just days away, Meriden Fire Chief James Trainer said Friday that it’s important to be safe with fireworks.

"They're pretty dangerous,” he said. “They are not unlike putting a gun in someone's hand, and they can do as much damage."

Two-thirds of all fireworks injuries happen between mid-June and mid-July, state officials said. In Connecticut, only sparklers and fountains are illegal, they said.

"The sale to those under the age of 16 is illegal by statute," said Jerry Farrell Jr., with the Department of Consumer Protection.

To make sure stores around the state are keeping that rule in mind, investigators went undercover. Meriden and Wallingford police and fire departments all took part in a sting.

State officials went store to store with a 13-year-old volunteer. The volunteer would enter a store and try to buy fireworks.

Officers checked six retailers in Meriden and six in Wallingford. Out of those 12, two locations were busted for selling to a minor, police said.

A phantom fireworks tent on South Colony Road in Meriden and Nisa's Variety on East Center Street in Wallingford violated the law by selling to the undercover minor, police said. Both stores now face heavy penalties.

"We do not want to see any child injured,” said Trainer. “Do not sell to children under the age of 16."