West End theatre - 2010 Tshwane Mediaeval Fayre - Soccer world cup accomodation -Get some color flame
Some fire-dancing safety advice from Magic Stunts
Common Sense
NEVER fire twirl under the influence of any drug, including alcohol. Check the
equipment you use to fire twirl is free from damage including loose screws,
frayed wick, deteriorating grips or other obvious defects. Only twirl with fire
what you are competent and comfortable doing and have practised extensively
with unlit equipment. Don't twirl in areas that are a fire danger, for example
with overhanging trees, dry grass or loose foliage. Be aware of wind direction
and that flames may travel if the wind is too strong.
Personal Safety
Never fire twirl alone, especially if you are new to fire dancing -- a second
person can watch over your safety while you are using fire and help in case
of any accident. Wear clothes of natural fibres (like cotton or denim) that
are not floppy or loose to avoid setting yourself on fire. Make sure you have
safety equipment handy such as a fire blanket or damp cloth (that is *never*
used to mop up fuel). If you don't have a fire extinguisher, find out where
the closest one is. Importantly, be confident with your fire safety equipment
and KNOW HOW TO USE IT before an accident occurs.
Safety of Others
Be very aware of your environment and the people in it. Make sure you have a
lot of space around you when you fire twirl and keep an eye out for people who
may wander by while you are dancing. When fire dancing in public you are dancing
with others, not all of them as aware of the danger as you may be. Especially
at parties, people tend to wander too close. Yes that's stupid but they still
don't deserve to get burnt.
Fuels
The most commonly used (and the safest) fuel used for fire dancing in South
Africa is parafin (kerosene in Australia). Parafin is known to contain harmful
additives in some countries, so be sure to get some local fuel advice before
using it elsewhere. Kerosene (or parafin) is an inexpensive and readily available
fuel that has good qualities for dancing (a low burn temperature and high flash
point). Similar fuels that are good for dancing include odourless kerosine and
citronella oil. Make sure your fuel is in a well labeled, sealed container.
NEVER ignite a fuel that you do not know is safe to twirl with. If you are unsure,
you can obtain an MSDS from your supplier to assess it's safety properties.
Dipping
Dedicate a dipping space separate from the space you will be dancing in. At
all times, keep fire away from the fuel and the dipping area. Fully submerge
the wick in your fuel dipping container for a few seconds. Let the wicks 'stand'
for about 5 minutes to let the parafin soak into the wick then spin off as much
of the excess fuel as possible to ensure that when you light up, you will not
'flick' ignited drops of fuel about your space. Do this as far away as practical
from your performing area and bear in mind you're spraying fuel onto the grass/curtains/wooden
stage/your hair so if you don't want to light it, don't soak it in fuel. Also
parafin will kill grass, so try to stay away from peoples's pristine lawns.
Lighting
Check your handles/grips (depending what you're using) are free of any fuel
spillages before you start. Light AWAY from the dipping area with a candle or
a lighter. Always light from below the wick to avoid engulfing the lighting
instrument in flames. If you are using a lighter, do not keep it in your pocket
or on your body while you are fire dancing - if it were to heat up it could
explode.
Extinguishing
Fire wicks will naturally go out after a few minutes of dancing. Many people
prefer to extinguish the wick either to end a dancing set or to prolong the
life of the wick (a smoldering wick will deteriorate faster than one that is
extinguished). If a wick is nearly exhausted, you can blow it out starting at
the base of the wick. Otherwise, smother it in a fire blanket or damp towel.
Avoid soaking in water as your wicks won't soak up fuel or light for quite a
while if they get wet.
Be careful of your surroundings. If you drop your fire staff or poi, or if any fuel drips off your lit fire equipment, it may ignite the ground. The easiest way to put out small ground fires is to firmly stand on them in your shoes. DO NOT go anywhere near your safety area while your wicks are still burning.
Should your clothing or any other object catch alight, smother immediately with either a fire blanket, damp towel or anything else available to put out the fire. Do not pat the fire as this will only encourage the flame -- cover it and hold until it is extinguished. Or extinguish with a fire extinguisher if one is available. If nothing is available and you have caught alight, drop to the ground and roll to extinguish the flame. DO NOT go anywhere near your safety area while you are burning.
First Aid
Tend to any minor burns by running the burn under cold running water if the
skin is not broken. If the burn is major, seek medical attention.