Fire Saftey

Fire Safety Information and Guidelines
written by Pan and Lara

The main purpose of this document is to educate Fire Performers and Safety Personnel to ensure the safety of performers, audiences, and venues. In addition to these guidelines, all regulations of local and state Fire Marshals must be followed. The second purpose of this document is to promote an understanding and cooperation among performers of the fire arts community, the community-at-large, and fire prevention officials through our promotion of responsible professionalism.

  1. Performer Guidelines

    Performing Fire Artists are expected to act in a professional manner. They should be sober, well rehearsed, and safe each time they light up. Developing respect for fire, each other and for the art itself must always be encouraged and expected by all of us.

    1. Sobriety
      • Never perform or practice with lit tools while under the influence of any substance (including prescription medications) that may impair concentration or judgment.
      • Avoid lit spinning in any condition other than fully awake, aware and capable.

    2. Performer Safety Awareness
      • Be sure to have an open space to practice or perform with plenty of room for everyone to move without hitting each other.
      • Before lighting up, the performer should be ready to spin the lit tool for its full duration. If the spin must end before the poi / tool has extinguished, the safety person should assist by placing the moist bath sized towel or fire blanket open upon the ground. The fire performer should lay the flaming wicks upon the towel and walk away (not standing directly over the fire.) The safety assistant will then fold the towel over the wicks, pressing down until they are extinguished.
      • New moves should always be practiced with non-lit poi or gear until proficient.
      • When spinning fire, always have a trained safety person present. The safety must constantly watch the performer, have an ABC extinguisher handy, and hold a wet towel in their hands (not "nearby.")
      • If you notice a flame on yourself, or if your Safety calls, "YOUR ______ IS ON FIRE," stop spinning! Quickly slide your cupped palm with closed fingers along your body, over and past the flame, away from your face. If you are unsuccessful after three seconds or the fire is on your back or your head, your safety should call loudly, "HOLD!" When you hear this, you MUST stop all movement and hold your poi straight out to your sides, so the Safety can smother the fire with the damp towel or fire blanket. (Not the fire extinguisher.)
      • If, however, your clothing or hair is actually burning or the term "Human Torch" comes to your mind - remember: STOP; DROP; & ROLL while COVERING your face with your hands. Your safety crew will then cover you with a fire blanket / wet bath towel. While none of us will probably ever witness this sort of accident, professionalism demands that we prepare ourselves to manage all worst-case scenarios.

    3. Costume and Clothing
      • Performance and practice clothing should be made of 100% cotton, leather, wool, or other tightly woven natural fibers (with the exception of silk. Silk is flammable.) Flame resistant clothing used by Firefighters and stunt performers, such as Nomex, is acceptable.
      • Unacceptable materials include human-made fibers such as polyester, rayon, plastic, nylon or 50/50 cotton mix. No feathers or dangly bits. Thin and loosely woven items are dangerous, as are fuzzy wool or cotton items. Be wary of loosely fitting flowing clothing, as they more likely to catch fire.
      • Spray hair with water, or cover it with cotton hat or bandana. Spray your head, your clothing, and exposed skin. Long hair should be tied up before covering and wetting. Wet only the outer most layer. Never cover a wet layer with another cloth layer as this can cause steam scalding. Remember that water only slows down ignition of you by denying oxygen to the flames at the surface of your clothing, skin or hair. It also evaporates, so re-spray if doing a set.

  2. Safeties and Guards

    Each fire performance and practice should have trained non-performing Safety personnel (spotters) present, with an ABC fire extinguisher and damp terry bath sized towel or at least one square meter of Flame Retardant fire blanket. One safety person per active performer is preferred. Other responsibilities of Safety spotters include the retrieval and extinguisher of a lit wick if one happens to fly. In addition, the fire safety person must act as a guard to separate the audience members from the performance area. A guard may also be needed to provide for security of the Fuel Station.

    1. Fire Safety
      • Fire safety personnel should be well aware of the various aspects of fire performance and should be familiar with the performance routine.
      • Fire safety personnel must have the same clothing requirements as performers (see above.)
      • Fire safety personnel should be trained in extinguishing flames, giving shouted messages to the performer while performing, untangling equipment, safety of the fuel station area, first aid, and audience control.
      • Simple command phrases or words should be agreed upon for communication from the safety person to the performer. The safety person has absolute authority to stop the performer if the performer is unable to extinguish a fire themselves. Within Soul Fire Tribe, if the performer is aware of the flame on their clothing or the flame is easily accessable AND the flame is not on the performer's hair, head, or back, the safety person LOUDLY calls, "YOUR _____ (body part)_____ IS ON FIRE!" The performer has three seconds to extinguish the flame themselves. If, after three seconds, or if the fire involves their head, hair, or back, call loudly, "HOLD!!!" At this point, the performer MUST stop all movement and hold their poi way out to their sides so the safety person can extinguish the flame.
      • Fires upon clothing are extinguished by covering with the damp bath towel or fire blanket and sweeping heavily downward, away from the head. Fires on hair are extinguished by completely covering the performer with the damp bath towel or fire blanket. Note that almost all fires on performers are fuels burning, not clothing, and those flames may self-extinguish quickly if proper clothing is worn. If the flames are near the face, try not to inhale the flames or the air around them. Hold your breath when near the flaming performer.
      • Venue fires are extinguished with an ABC fire extinguisher. The way to use one is to pull the pin, squeeze the handle, and sweep the extinguisher back and forth at the BASE of the fire. "A" type extinguishers are designed for Trash, Wood & Paper. "B" types extinguish Liquids & Grease. "C" types extinguish Electrical equipment. Fire performers should use only "ABC" extinguishers, which are effective on all relevant types of fire. Water used on flaming fuel will splash may spread the burning fuel.
      • Remember the "Fire Triangle:" Fire comes from the combination of these three items: FUEL, as a vapor, mixed with OXYGEN and IGNITION. Remove any one of these three and no fire starts nor remains.
      • Hands-on training for handling all types of fires must be obtained from an approved trainer.

    2. First Aid Standards
        3. Fire safety personnel should have first aid training, especially in burn care and CPR.
      • Specific first aid measures are covered in Soul Fire Tribe's publication, "First Aid for Fire Performers and Safety Personnel."
      • A cell phone must be present for an emergency call, as well as the venue's address. If you must call 911, send sone to the street to direct emergency crews to the site.
  3. Tools

    Our standards for fire tools are to ensure that fire does not accidentally leave control of the user. Attachments should be secure, and the tool should be designed to easily withstand the rigors placed on it by the performer. Stainless steel chains and connecting hardware is preferred as it does not heat to as high a temperature compared to coated steel or other metal alloys.

    1. Wick Attachment and Construction
      • Wicks should be attached to the fire tool with a limiting method, such as a locking nut. Wires, screws, or bolts should fasten the wick to the device. Glues and friction (such as a non-locking nut or a knot) should never be the sole method of wick attachment to any swinging device.
      • Wicks must be constructed in such a way as to prevent loss of any part during use. Kevlar is the industry wick standard. An example of an unacceptable fire toy would be a knotted cotton cloth. This is a dangerous item and should not be used.

    2. Handle Attachment
      • The body of fire staffs, wands, "fingers" (gloves with flaming wire fingertips), palms, fans and other shafted fire tools should either be made of fireproof materials (metal, carbon fiber, etc), or have a protective covering that extends at least 4 inches beyond typical flame contact zones. For a staff, this is 4 inches in either direction of a wick.
      • Poi handles should be attached to the chains, and should be monitored with the same attention as the wick hardware. Tether loops should not depend on glue or friction to remain connected. Some device should be employed to maintain attachment, such as a locking stainless steel quick link.
      • Poi handles should be made of leather or stitched nylon, and should be vigorously checked before each use. Any sign of cracking, fraying, or tearing should be considered cause for replacement. Leather and nylon attachment holes must be augmented with metal grommets to prevent tearing.

    3. Connectors
      • If the device has multiple parts or chains, the connectors attaching all parts together should be of a sealed ring type rated above the maximum possible stress that can be applied to the device, such as a stainless steel quick link. No split rings or direct chain-to-poi connections are permitted.
      • Any connectors that could be exposed to heat should preferably be made of Stainless Steel, however, zinc or nickel coated steel is also acceptable. Forbidden connector materials include plastic, aluminum and springs.

    4. Chains
      • The options are
        1. welded oval link chain;
        2. ball chain;
        3. 7x7 SS wire rope.
      • Soul Fire Tribe almost exclusively uses stainless steel ball chain, size 15. The advantages of ball chain are that it is smooth and will not catch on clothing, it won't kink and is easy to untangle, and each link acts as a swivel and thusly spins the most smoothly. The main disadvantage of ball chain is that it is not as strong or durable as oval links or 7x7 SS wire rope. This is why we highly recommend only using stainless steel, frequently checking links for wear, and reversing 'hot' and 'cold' ends of your chain after about 100 burns. Acceptable sizes of ball chain are: #13 (1/4th inch ball diameter with tensile strength of 90 lb) and #15 (5/16th inch ball diameter with tensile strength of 120 lb) or #20. Caution: Fast spinning, wraps, kicks and quick direction changes will increase the effective weight stress between 30 to 100 times, compared to a poi head's weight at rest. Never attach the end "A" link directly to the poi head or handle, only to quick links. A direct attachment will cause undue side pressure and premature failure of the first connecting rod. Inspect, inspect, inspect!

    5. Safety Checks
      • Before each use, the performer should look over each device to ensure that all parts are in good condition and that all connections are tight. A quick way to test gear is to grasp each wick and tug it away from the normal point of contact, then tug the handle using the same method.
      • Before each lit performing event, special care should be used to ensure all nuts, screws, and wires are tight and secure. Grips and handles should be thoroughly checked for security, and the wicks should be tested thoroughly. Visually inspect each ball chain link in good light. If performing for an audience, a second detailed check of equipment, clothing and mental status should be performed by a second performer or safety person.

    6. Soaking Equipment
      • Soak tools in a container that can be covered securely between soakings.
      • Always spin off excess fuel in a zone secure from audience members and far from ignition sources (including smoking) before performing.
      • Excess fuel can be "spun off" with a bucket over your wicks. Other ways of spinning off include the safe ground-lighting act, as part of one's performance - such as "the ring of fire" or "train tracks." Spin off in the safest area possible. Indoors, spin-offs should be avoided, but may cautiously be done with a heavy-duty plastic bag over the spin off bucket and wick to prevent accidents. Pour the spun-off fuel in the bucket into the fuel container and reseal it. Mop up any spilled fuel before ignition.
      • Always mop up oily fuels before leaving. Remove oily residue from performance area between performances.

  4. Fuels

    Fuel Safety should ensure that an uncontrolled fuel burn does not occur, and that the audience and venue remain safe. High flash point fuels (150 degrees +) do not usually pose a threat of flashback, but often burn smokily, or produce air toxins that could pose a threat to public health in poorly ventilated areas. Low flash point fuels, which burn cleanly, can form vapor clouds at ambient temperatures or in direct sunlight, and could be ignited by a flame source from far away. Low flash point fuels could also ignite otherwise safe materials. Fuels should always be kept covered.

    1. Types and Properties:

      Fuels have different properties that make them safer and / or more effective compared to other fuels in various circumstances. Performers should be fully informed as to the diverse characteristics and hazards of each fuel before deciding on the 'right' fuel.

      1. Alcohol
        • aka: 151, Everclear, Isopropyl, ETOH
        • low flash point: fast lighting, requires vapor limiting.
        • Clean burning: no burn toxins, safe indoors
        • Low, cool flame: self-extinguishes easily, low visibility.

      2. Naphtha
        • aka: white gas, camping fuel, lighter fluid
        • low flash point: fast lighting, requires vapor limiting.
        • Clean burning: few burn toxins, fairly safe indoors
        • Strong, hot flame: high visibility, dangerous flame

      3. Kerosene
        • aka: K1, diesel fuel
        • high flash point: slow lighting, minimal vapors at room temp
        • Dirty burn: leaves smoke and toxin residue after burn
        • Weak, hot flame: takes several seconds to form full flame.
          • Can burn in very low oxygen environments such as high altitude.
        • Burns longer than Naphtha, but not as bright.

      4. Paraffin
        • aka: lamp oil, mineral oil
        • high flash point: slow lighting, no vapors at room temp
        • Dirty burn: leaves smoke and air toxin residues after burn
        • Weak, hot flame: takes several seconds to form full flame.
        • Can burn in very low oxygen environments

      5. Others: Obtain MSDS's (Material Safety Data Sheets, which can be found online, at: http://siri.org/msds/) for all fuels used and always have these with you when burning.

    2. Storage and Transport
      • A fuel's original retail container is usually the best choice for storage and transport.
      • If the original container is too bulky or is not reusable, a sealed metal container is the best overall choice, such as an new one-gallon paint can, which can easily be opened with a bottle opener and closed tightly with a rubber mallet. The container must be air sealed, a loosely closed lid is a time bomb, literally!
      • Regardless of flash point, fuels should be kept out of direct sunlight, and away from heat sources, sparks or flame.

    3. Onsite handling
      • Never place or handle fuels near the performance or audience area. Post up temporary warning signs and / or use a safety person around the fuel area.
      • Always seal fuel containers (regardless of fuel type) when not in use.
      • When at all possible, place the fuel area outdoors, behind a hard wall, and have a clear corridor from the fuel area to the stage. Never move fire or wet wicks through the audience.
      • If you can't have a hard wall between fuel and fire, place a safety person with a wet towel and an ABC extinguisher at the fueling site and ensure that fuel containers are sealed before any ignition. If your fuel station can't withstand a flaming poi thrown towards it from the performance area, it's not safe!

  5. Indoor specifics
    • If the fuel station cannot be placed outdoors, the indoor venue must be well ventilated and there should be exits nearby (and should be identified as such.)
    • Soaked fire tools should be "spun out" with a plastic bag over a bucket over the wick to avoid spraying an area with fuel.
    • Always avoid creating a vapor cloud indoors. Low flash point fuels should be stored in their sealed containers.
    • Alcohol and Naphtha are the preferred indoor fuels. Paraffin and Kerosene should only be very well ventilated venues.
    • A safety person with an ABC fire extinguisher should stand near the performance area and the fuel station to protect an indoor venue.
    • The performance area should be checked for flammable curtains, floorings, ceiling tiles and decorations. Move any hazards away from the performance area.
    • Though some areas require water to be present for the performance, it should never be used to extinguish a fuel fire. This could create a larger fire hazard by spreading the flames. An ABC extinguisher is preferred.

  6. Outdoor Specifics
    • If no walls can be found near the performance site, try to place the fuel station behind other terrain features (signs, rocks, etc) or place a safety person between the fuel and the fire. Have the protected fuel station at least 40 feet from open fires and the audience.
    • Check the area for dry, flammable grass and brush. Make sure that there are no tree branches above the performance area. Treat all plant life as if it was extremely flammable. Do not light fires in any "fire alert" zones due to dry conditions.(For example, be very careful in Oregon in the summertime. Only you can prevent forest and wild fires.)

  7. Traveling Guidelines
    • Before traveling, all fuel must be secured in leak proof, air tight containers. Wicks should be dry or covered with vapor limiting devices. If traveling via plane or other public transportation such as a bus, purchase fuel at your destination.
    • It's best to check in with the local Fire Marshal for the local regulations.

  8. Terms
    • Fire performance - The act of using lit wicked devices with fuel in a dance or moving theatrical performance.
    • Fire art - any use of non-exploding fire for the purposes of entertainment.
    • Flame resistant - any material with inherent or added properties to deter the spread of flame; such as Nomex, used by fire professionals.
    • Flame retardant – while not as safe as Flame Resistant, will still delay igniting.
    • Flash point - the temperature at which a substance will produce a sufficient density of vapors to ignite from an open container at sea level.
    • Vapor limiting - a type of container that can contain slightly pressurized gasses and prevent their escape.
    • Fire Poi - a cube or ball of wick, attached to chains and finger loop handles, usually spun in patterns for entertainment, enjoyment, exercise, or meditation.