Ember Arts Collective SGF

Hey everyone! I will be making a fire safety video soon going over everything you need to know about engaging in fire performance safely, but I also wanted to share this with you all so we have something to read and reference!

FIRE SAFETY 101: Playing with fire props of any kind is an inherently dangerous act and anyone who plays with fire needs to have a healthy respect for it. It can hurt or kill you or others, damage property, and improper fire safety adherence can have long term effects on one’s body. Safety should always be the number one goal above all else, so if there is anything that is going to compromise safety or if you are not ready to assume the full risk and liability of literally playing with fire, DO NOT ENGAGE IN FIRE FLOW!

SCENE AND SPACE- things to consider:
- Are there trees, leaves on the ground, powerlines, excessive wind, children running about, drunk people running about?
- Have a designated fire spinning area roped off away from everything else that is clear of hazards. Place the dip station at least 15 feet away from wherever you are spinning, and have a designated “spin off” area also 15 feet away from everything else as well.
- Do you have explicit permission to spin fire wherever you are spinning at, not just from the property owners, but are you also following any city ordinances or open flame laws in your area? Always best to check with local laws/fire marshalls. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS CLEARED, DO NOT SPIN AT THAT LOCATION! You and the property owner could acquire fines and also possibly put others in danger if you choose to not go through the proper channels.

FUEL/DIP STATION:
- Every fuel/dip station should have a double bucket system, where there is a bucket holding the fuel inside of a bigger bucket with a lid. The containers should be made of metal. If the fuel accidentally ignites, the lid can be placed immediately over the bucket and extinguish oxygen to the fire. This also prevents fuel from spilling all over the ground and elsewhere, keeping things contained. I suggest keeping a funnel in your bucket so you can have an easier time putting fuel back into its original container once finished. Fuel should always be stored in its original container. Do not store fuel in plastic or glass.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
You should have a few things on hand when spinning fire, all of these are mandatory to have around every time you ignite.
1. A fire safety person. This person's job is to watch you spin and make sure that not only you, but also people/things around you don't catch on fire. If something or a body part of yours catches on fire, it's customary for the fire safety person to call out said object and be as specific as possible. Like “knee” instead of leg, or “shoulder” instead of back. You should be able to pat out any flames on you, but if you can't, the fire safety person can use the fire blanket to smother the flame and remove oxygen source, effectively extinguishing it.
2. A fire blanket- about 8oz thick (can be 10-12) made of natural material, used to extinguish flames. Make sure you purchase from reputable flow prop companies and make sure before you go to use the blanket, that there are no holes/frays on the blanket.
3. Fire extinguisher- it's important to note that these are to be used as a last effort. There are different kinds of fire extinguishers and are not generally supposed to be used on humans. An ABC extinguisher has chemical expellants and can be irritating to the skin and lungs, BC extinguishers are carbon dioxide extinguishers, which can cause respiratory problems. ABC extinguishers are needed for materials like wood and paper, so if you are spinning outdoors and a tree catches fire, you will need an ABC extinguisher to put it out. BC are more ideal to use on people if you absolutely have to. (pull aim squeeze sweep)

APPEARANCE:
You should be wearing natural materials, not too loose of clothing and nothing frayed or with fringe. Hair needs to be pulled back.

PROPS:
Inspect your prop before burning. Is every part secured, every screw tightened and in place, are your wicks going to fly off, are they too frayed, these are all things to consider.

FUEL: not all made the same
- High flash point fuel: ignites at higher temperature, so harder/slower to ignite. Burns cooler and longer. (lamp oil) is greasy and slippery. Appropriate for fire breathing. Not appropriate for spinning props, v***r tricks, etc
- Low flash point fuel: ignites at a lower temp, so quicker/faster to ignite. Burns hotter and shorter. (white gas) ev***rates quickly. Appropriate for spinning props, contact fire, and v***r tricks. Not appropriate for breathing.

Eating and breathing tricks need to be taught by a skilled professional because improper ex*****on can lead to chemical pneumonia, illness, cancers, and even death.

READING THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE READY TO IGNITE! Please work with your local fire community or someone experienced for your first burn (Heyyyyyy...)

I love all of you and I want us all to be safe! Fellow fire friends, please let me know if I missed anything in the comments, and please share around for awareness!

Love,
Hope VonLumen ❤️‍🔥

Yesterday was AWESOME. 😃
Thanks to everyone who lent a hand!
Help us keep the vibe going, and tell all your peeps. 🐥 👀

Want to get involved???
There's a place for you here at Ember Arts Collective!
We are looking for members/volunteers to help out with the mission. We need dedicated and creative people to help behind the scenes, and we need you as soon as tomorrow at FLOW PART III - FIRE !
If you love working as part of a team, smash those buttons and become a member!
We can't do it without you!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷