This was compiled by Tabasco and posted by Crimson Rose on Burning Man's BRC Extranet.
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Performer Fire Safety Guidelines, Tips and Tricks. Every Fire Watch and Fire Performer should know and utilize.


Type of Tools:

• Dynamic: Tools that may fly from performers grip and travel into a crowd. (Examples: Poi, Staff, hula hoop, meteor, fire breathing)

• Static: Usually smaller tools that are used in a slower dance or performance & if dropped will not go more than 4 feet from the performer. (Examples: Fingers, eating torches, palm torches, fans)


Fuels and Different responses:

• White Gas: Low flash point (probably the most used fuel)
o Used for Fire eating, most large tools, bodywork, Fire breathing.
o Dangerous if it spills, can light up quick and easy. It evaporates quickly, and has very little or no smoke.

• Lamp oil: High Flash Point (second most common fuel)
o Used for Fire Breathing, and most large tools.
o Leaves an oily residue on ground that can be slippery, however it is not likely to light., Smokey (usually after it has been smothered).

• Lighter Fluid: Low flash point
o Used for fire eating, and to help performers using lamp oil or kerosene light their tools faster. (Not a common fuel)

• Alcohol: Low flash point
o Used for fire eating, body work, breathing and colored flames.

• Kerosene: High flash point
o Smokey, smells bad, not for indoor use,
o Used with larger and smaller performance tools.

• Klean Heat: A kerosene supplement
o It acts like a blend of lamp oil and white gas, no smoke or residue, and harder to light. Have heard mixed response and have not played with it personally.


Fire Safeties tools of the trade:

• Wet towel (cotton or wool) or Duvetyn (unwashed, dry)
o These are your best friends
o The towel does not need to be dripping wet. It needs to be solidly damp.
o If fuel gets spilled on the duvetyn, through it away, and do not use again.
o Washing or wetting duvetyn rinses out the flame retardant chemical in it.

• Flash light
o It’s important to be able to see, when fire is not possible (ie Next to the fuel dump)

• Gloves (these are a bonus item, BBQ or welding gloves work great).
o Great for untangling chains wrapped around someone’s hands.

• Fire Extinguishers
o This should primarily be used for objects, not performer (ie stage is on fire). It is a last resort for performers. If possible use a CO2 (B) or water extinguisher (A) on a human before using a dry chem. (ABC).

• Voice
o Yell, announce yourself, and that there is a fire.


How to put tools out:

• Basic tools (ie poi, clubs)
o The preferred method is placing the towel on the ground, and having the performer place their torches on top. (Let the poi come to you)
o Sometimes performers will expect you to catch the fire and put it out, catch with the towel and smother. If you need to, take the tool to the ground to smother..
o Fully smother, if you stop too soon, the fire may flare back up.

• Tools attached to the body (ie fingers)
o Make sure you don’t push the fire toward the performer, sweep the fire away from their finger not towards.

• Multiple fire devices (ie staff or hoops)
o One flame at a time, preferably with a partner safety (then you can do multiple).
o Watch out for the end that is still on fire, have to be extra aware not to set other people or items on fire.

• Large fire items (ie Jump Ropes)
o Needs extra people, try and smother the whole thing at once, otherwise walk the towel smothering from one end to the other.
o You can also try gathering the whole thing into a bundle if the piece is not too big. A wet towel is better for this.


Fuel dump

• There is only one safe way to put out a fuel dump – extinguisher.
• Do NOT allow performers to place flaming tools near or in fuel dump.

Putting Performers out:

• Announce the fire
o Tell the performer where they are on fire
o Often a performer will brush a leg or arm and a small fire will be left, announce these and in most cases performers will put them out themselves.

• Announce yourself as you approach
o Beware, running up and putting a performer out while they are spinning big heavy balls of fire may not be in your best interest. Let them know you are there.

• Try and make eye Contact
o If they are panicking, rush. If they are not and should be, rush.
o If they seems to have it under control react but let them respond with you.

• Take care of yourself
o Having two people on fire is bad; if you are lit in the process of putting out a fire, put yourself out first.

• Tell the performer what to do/what you are doing
o Don’t let them hold a torch above your head while they are looking the other way.

• Keep your eyes open
o Watch
o If you are doing safety, and see safety putting some one out, if they don’t need help watch the rest of the performers. Do not stare at the accident.

• Use an extinguisher on a performer only if
o The fire is beyond the performer (ie stage is on fire)
o The fire is bigger than your towel can handle.
o You only have an extinguisher.


Things to Note and pay attention too:

• Clothing – In a perfect world everyone will wear natural fibers, however this is not a perfect world, and natural fibers are not as sexy as synthetics. Many performers will wear what they want, not what’s safe.
o Watch for frilly stuff, and fringe. This will catch on fire and stay on fire
o If it is synthetic protect yourself as well. It’s like hot sticky marshmallows when putting it out and will burn you very easily

• When watching several performers try and keep your eyes scanning the various performers. Watch the veterans do the cool and dangerous and the beginners who are backing them up.
• Braids are less likely to catch on fire than an Afro.


If the worst happens:

• Stay calm and do not cause panic, if you find your losing control, notify other safety and remove your self from the situation and allow others to deal with it.

• Injury:
o Make sure all fire is out
o Contact a Ranger who will contact emergency medical services.
o Try and keep the injured party comfortable.
o If a lot of water is available, (and if possible) place the wound in a bucket of water and keep the water moving over the burn. This will help stop the burn under the skin.
o DO Not use ice on a burn. This will actually cause more damage.

• Out of control fire
o On the playa try to put out with a fire extinguisher (preferably CO2)
o Try to keep it contained, keep performers and audience away
o If it is threatening to move into the audience or towards the man sacrifice your self to stop it or clear the area calmly, try to stay cool and collected.