Revellers have likened the Northern Territory's 2016 cracker night to being in a war zone.

There were fires dotted throughout Darwin, with firefighters called out an astonishing 280 times.

Thousands of people travelled from interstate and overseas for the annual July 1 event, where fireworks can be let off freely from 6–11pm.

Some men just want to watch the world burn: This fire started from fireworks on the Fannie Bay foreshore. ( ABC News: Helen Pereira )

In Darwin, the smell of smoke filled the streets and people desperately scrambled to avoid being struck by debris.

"I felt like we were in Syria driving down the street, the whole car was shaking," Ben Winston from England said.

Huge crowds gathered at different locations around Darwin, including Mindil Beach, Nightcliff and East Point, watching and letting of fireworks.

"It's an adventure for people like us from southern states, it's just so fun," Jenny Lucre from Perth said.

Hundreds of fireworks were thrown off balconies and lit on the roads of Darwin's CBD.

Fireworks can be let off freely from 6-11pm on Territory Day. ( Supplied: Max Tavu )

"It's crazy, we just can't get over the fireworks just going off willy nilly all over town," Rose Mitchell from Broome said.

But Territory Day often ends in injury, and the environmental damage is extensive.

This year police said despite 18,000 people attending the Mindil Beach celebrations, there was only one arrest for disorderly behaviour.

Seven people were treated at the Royal Darwin Hospital and two admitted for injuries to their hands.

One person was treated at Gove Hospital in Nhulunbuy.

Like every year, the debate over whether to ban the sale of fireworks on July 1 was reignited.

Earlier this week Darwin's Lord Mayor, Katrina Fong Lim, called on the Government to scrap the event once and for all, saying it was time for the Territory to "grow up".

But both the Country Liberals and Labor have said they support Territory Day firework sales, and want the tradition to continue.