About 370 tonnes of fireworks were ignited on Sunday night during the Northern Territory's famous 'cracker night', but that also led to 27 injuries, 770 triple-0 calls and 679 grassfires.

From 6:00pm to 11:00pm more than 370 tonnes of fireworks, bought from pop-up retailers, were set off to celebrate 40 years of self governance in the NT.

NT Major Events company spent $386,000 on fireworks displays across Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, as well as at 16 regional fireworks locations, including Palmerston.

A spokesperson from the NT Health Department said 27 people were injured across the Territory, including eight children.

Paramedics were called to two incidents, including for a four-year-old girl who was believed to have been hit in the eye at Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands, said Craig Garraway from St Johns Ambulance.

Another 23-year-old man sustained a minor injury to his groin near Mindil Beach, he said.

In Darwin and Palmerston 21 people presented to hospital with burns, lacerations and eye injuries.

Six were admitted for further treatment, although none of the injuries were life threatening.

One child was transferred from Palmerston to Darwin for treatment.

Grass fires broke out across much of Darwin and surrounds, including this one in Johnston. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

Emergency services were run off their feet throughout Territory Day. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

Fire engulfed some parts of Zuccoli. ( ABC News: AL Dowler )

The spokesperson from the NT Health Department said 19 of those injured were bystanders.

NT Police said five infringement notices were also issued, with penalties reaching up to $1,500 for setting off explosions outside the legal time frame.

NT Fire and Rescue watch commander Craig Slack said it received about 770 triple-0 calls for about 310 fires in the Darwin region.

In total, 679 grassfires were reported, along with 98 fireworks-related disturbances and six structure fires.

The joint emergency services communication centre took 1,792 calls.

"Territory Day is without doubt one of the busiest days of the year for the fire service, and last night was certainly no exception," Mr Slack said.

"About 310 of those [fires are] in the Darwin region, so the crews were kept very busy last night."

He said the northern suburbs of Darwin and Palmerston had seen a number of large fires.

Those that still had unused fireworks should call NT Worksafe on 1800 019 115 to organise their disposal.

Punters stocked up on fireworks to mark 40 years of self-governance in the NT. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

A TNT cracker explodes in Johnston. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

'There's too much suffering'

While 'cracker night' is a calendar highlight for many Territorians, others have called for it to be banned.

Speaking to ABC Radio on Monday morning, wildlife carer Mandy Hall said she saw many terrified animals injured during the event.

She also shared a photograph on Facebook, which she did not take, that she said depicted the bloodstains left behind by a dog during cracker night.

Mandy Hall shared this photo on Facebook, which she said depicted bloodstains left behind by a terrified dog clawing at the floor. ( Supplied: Mandy Hall )

"That photo makes me feel angry and disappointed because photos like this are coming up every year," she said.

"Around fireworks night we see dogs coming in hit by cars because they have been running for their lives.

"Animals come in with lacerations to their mouths, missing teeth, where they've tried to chew their way out of a situation.

"Dogs with their nails ripped out of their feet from trying to claw away and get out of a situation that they deem is dangerous."

She suggested pet owners make a secure place for their dog to go, like a cushioned den, for fireworks displays in the future, and urged strongly against tying them up.

She said owners of particularly anxious dogs should see their vet before the next fireworks event.

"I just believe that [fireworks] are completely unnecessary, it's not worth it," Ms Hall said.

"There's too much suffering that goes on."

'How do I control my emus?'

Helen from Coolalinga also called ABC Radio, and said many of the animals on her hobby farm had been terrified.

"I have three dogs, two couldn't give a rats but the other one spent the night inside shivering and shaking," she said.

"How do I control my emus, for argument's sake? They were crashing and banging."

The fireworks clean-up was underway at Rapid Creek on Monday morning. ( ABC News: Mitch Abram )

She rejected claims that cracker night was part of the Northern Territory's identity.

"I hear people carrying on saying 'it's a Territorian's right' and 'we've been doing it for the last 40 years' — what a load of crock," she said.

Loading

"I'm a Territorian. And nowadays the fireworks [are] all about how loud the bang can be.

"It's like letting off dynamite. It's not like it was in the old days with the Tom Thumbs and the Penny Bungers. It's just ridiculous.

"Nowadays you stand there and the ground shakes when you let them off."

While ABC Darwin received text messages suggesting people should do a safety induction and obtain a permit to buy fireworks, or that fireworks should be contained to a designated area, Darwin Mayor Kon Vaskalis believed there should be a spending limit.

He said he would also like to see quality control checks on the imported fireworks, to ensure they would not misfire and cause injury.

"Limit the amount of firecrackers somebody can buy. You can't go and buy firecrackers for $1,000 and then start blowing everything up. We have to be sensible," he said.

On Facebook, opinions were divided, with some pushing for a ban on fireworks:

"I think Territory Day [needs] to be one public venue to celebrate with no public sales of fireworks." — Sammy Patullo

"I love the fireworks. I love how it gives the day a special feel. I love how it is something different that we only do up here. I love the colours and the kids' excitement and the noise. But I also think it's time to be sensible. There is too much carnage for a few hours of expensive fun. I think we need to make the decision to restrict it to planned events with people who know what they're doing. I know, I know, move south then…" — Toni Willis

"I just think it's crazy. So many injuries and near misses, so many fires, so much wasted money pretty much just set alight! Have planned venues once a year like that at Mindil last night … makes so much more sense than letting everyone loose with alcohol and fireworks!" — Tracey Gregory

"The wasted money thing is a matter of opinion. My family collects their soft drink cans and bottles for the year, and that's the money we have to spend on fireworks. We don't go crazy and really enjoyed our evening sitting around the bbq letting a firework off every few minutes." — Adam Burgan

"They know how to have fun in the NT." — Julie MacLean

A firework goes off in Palmerston, during cracker night. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

Tuckeroo Boulevard in Zuccoli was glowing, as scrub fires ignited during cracker night. ( ABC News: Al Dowler )

Rubbish was strewn about the NT after cracker night on Sunday. ( ABC News: Mitch Abram )