Got Fire's Standard of Safety

Fuels:

• NO SMOKING OR OPEN FLAMES ANYWHERE NEAR FUEL OR FUEL STORAGE AREA. NO EXCEPTIONS

• All fuels must be transported in and/or with their original packaging containers.

• Any container that fuel is transferred into, whether for dipping or other wise, must be placed into a larger vapor limiting container. The approved “Got Fire” container of choice is a 5 gallon plastic paint bucket WITH LID.

• All outer containers, as well as inner containers should be sealed at all times except when the performer is mixing, dipping or refueling.

• Dipping cans should be any metal, sealable container and must NOT be made of glass or porcelain.

• A copy of the MSDS for your fuel needs to be kept in your fire kit at all times; each performer should be familiar with the properties of whatever fuels are being used.

• Label your outer, vapor limiting containers as, “Flammable Liquid”

• Keep fuel and fuel cans AT LEAST 25 feet from the performance area and behind a barrier to prevent fuel vapors from traveling to dance area and flashing back.

• During an indoor performance, all fuels should be kept out side when possible and always away from the audience.

• Chemical Salts mixed with fuels to obtain colored flame should NOT be used for indoor performances due to potential toxic fumes and separate dipping cans should be used for these mixtures.

• Paraffin and kerosene should NOT be used for indoor performances (paraffin can be used indoors only for fire breathing) Best indoor fuels are isopropyl alcohol, white gas and a white gas/lighter fluid mixture.

• DO NOT use, mix or refill another performers fuel without their consent and instruction as their mixture may differ from what you use.

• Appropriate fuels for fire performance include but are not limited to Charcoal lighter fluid, Coleman camping fuel (aka white gas), paraffin (for fire breathing), Isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol (used for chemical salt mixtures) and kerosene. Never use automotive gasoline (petrol).


Fire Safety Personnel:

• When spotting for a fire performer, the fire spotter must remain alert and attentive at all times.

• Fire spotters should stand by with a wet towel and a dry duvetyn cloth. Wet towels are best to extinguish a fire performers costume or hair, should they catch fire; dry duvetyn is best to extinguish wicks.

• There should be at least one person standing by with a CO2 extinguisher.

• If a performer ignites his clothing or hair, the spotter should call to the performer while rushing in to extinguish flames – the spotter should never assume that the flames, no matter how small, will go out by itself.

• There should be one person handling safety at the fuel area to help keep dipping cans and outer containers sealed during performances and rehearsals.

• During performances with any audience, there should be adequate fire safety personnel to handle crowd control even if barricades are used.

• During performances with several fire performers, there should be ONE person to head up and oversee all fire safety personnel and performers. The head of fire safety’s only focus is safety. He or she should not be a performer at that event.


Head of Fire Safety’s responsibilities

• Assign fire safety personnel to appropriate stations (fuel area, performer spotters, crowd control etc…)

• Approve costuming prior to a performer going on stage and being given flame.

• Cooperate with fire Marshall and his requests.

• Deny safety responsibility to any fire safety personnel or deny flame to any performer who has consumed any alcohol or has taken any illegal drugs or over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions drugs that may cause the person to become drowsy, impaired or sluggish (including, but not limited to antihistamines, sleep aids, cold medications, sedatives etc…)

• To make sure that there is adequate ventilation in any indoor performance space; that there are no flammable items in the performance area; that the performance area is safe and NOT slippery; that there is an open pathway from the fuel area to the spin off area to the performance area.

• Make sure that a performer removes any garment that has been splashed with fuel in any amount.

• Make sure that each performer has checked and tightened their equipment prior to receiving flame.


Fire Safety Equipment

• Wet towel – to extinguish clothing or hair

• Dry duvetyn – to extinguish wicks

• CO2 extinguisher – to extinguish inanimate
objects – can be used on clothing but NEVER aim at someone’s face.

• Bucket of water and/or garden hose – excellent for rehearsal spaces.

• FIRST AID KIT – should contain all the basics plus burn cream, aloe and charcoal tablets (in case a fire breather or fire eater has swallowed any amount of fuel)


Costuming

• Performers must wear appropriate costuming during performance or open flame rehearsals.

• Safe costuming include; leather (best choice), cotton, wool (natural fiber clothing, especially if it has been treated to be fire retardant)

• Unsafe costuming includes: polyester, PVC, Rubber, or any synthetic item that has not been treated with a fire retardant. Items that are loose fitting or flowing are strictly forbidden such as feather boas or costumes with fabric that can get tangled up in the fire equipment as you are performing.

• Hair must be free from alcohol based styling products, must be tied back or secured to avoid getting caught in fire equipment and catching fire.

• Shoes must be sturdy with appropriate soles to prevent slipping in the performance area.


Spin off area

• The fuel spin off area must be away from the performance area, fuel area and audience area.

• All performers must spin or shake off excess fuel from their equipment prior to lighting up to prevent flame and/or fuel from splattering.

• No smoking in this area.


Performance Space

• There should be at least 20 feet between the performer and the audience

• Performance space should be free from debris or any flammable items.

• Performance space should not be directly underneath a sprinkler.


Performer Safety Guidelines

• Only perform is you are fully alert and well prepared.

• Do not perform if there is any question as to the safety or structural integrity of your equipment.

• Make sure your equipment is secured and tightened prior to performance with or without flame.

• Always have a spotter when using open flame.

• Always perform what is familiar to you…new tricks done with fire for the first time should be done in during rehearsal/practice, not at a live show.

• Do not use flame to control or move the audience away from the performance area, there are people on crowd control who have that responsibility. If they are not doing their job, your equipment should not be lit to begin with.

• You should never walk through a crowd with fuel soaked equipment; always use the pathway that has been cleared for this purpose.

• If the crowd gets out of hand, place equipment on the ground and a spotter will extinguish the flames.

• If you feel the performance space in unsafe, DO NOT accept flame until it is safe.

• Always comply with the Head of Fire Safety’s requests.

Cornell University (MSDS)