1. FIRE SAFETY

— Is Fire Dancing Safe?

Fire is a mesmerising and powerful element that is not to be misjudged, even by professionals, as risk is an inherent aspect of handling Fire.
Adequate information and training will always create more control and safety for your confidence working with this art.

— Where Is A Safe Location To Fire Dance?

You need to be aware of, and comfortable with, your surroundings.
Beaches, parks or at home can be great places.
Depending on your area/country some Nature Reserves, Botanical Gardens, National Parks or Council Parklands aren’t suitable for open flames due to government heritage/environmental preservation.
In many countries, Performing with Fire or Fire Dancing in a Venue requires Permits, Contracts and Insurance.

— What Are Environmental Influences For Fire Safety?

• Oxygen is a key element for combustion. In environments with high winds, fire can become dangerous and difficult to control. Wind direction, even with low force, can alter our experience of fire in a very uncomfortable way, therefore it’s important to learn to sense wind direction to ensure fire travels away from your body while you’re fire dancing. Coastlines and Highlands are most typical of higher winds.

• Become aware of (or begin tracking online) high risk days in any region for wild fires/bush fires/forest fires that are a result of heat waves combined with high winds in areas of combustible vegetation. Most common during Summer Seasons or in Tropical Climates.

• What’s beneath your feet, overhead or around you can easily be a hazard. Make sure your ground is clear of obstructions. Note: sand can be safe as it’s non-combustable, however unstable for dancing. Be mindful not to Fire Dance in tall dry grass or beneath a tree canopy. Likewise, make sure you have enough space around you so that you feel comfortable to enjoy your dance.

— What is Fire Safe Clothing?

Natural Fibres such as Cotton, Bamboo, Linen are great options.
Synthetic Fabrics are NOT as they can ignite easily and even melt.
It’s good practice to check your clothing labels.
Some items will have a small percentage of fabrics such as Spandex, Polyester or Nylon to allow for stretch/waistbands. If the percentage of Synthetics is small in a Natural blend this can be relatively safe.

— Is My Hair Safe When Fire Dancing?

It’s highly recommended to tie hair up in a tight bun while learning.
Messy buns, loose strands, fringes, dry hair, bleached hair, curly hair, coloured hair can all be susceptible to catching light or singeing.
Please NEVER apply hair styling sprays, oils, creams, lotions or masks before Fire Dancing as many of these products can be highly flammable.
Dampening or misting your hair with a spray bottle of water moments before dancing will be a great protection for your hair.

2. FIRST AID

— How likely am I to Get Burnt?

Getting burns is a part of the learning process, your body is intelligent enough to adapt quickly to prevent this from happening long term. As a beginner it may happen regularly, as an adept, it will happen rarely. The severity of your burns will depend on your ability to understand and control fire.

— How Can I Prevent Burns?

Fire travels upwards so be intentional to hold your gear in a way that elevates the fire above your hands and away from your body when you’re still. As soon as your gear is lit, sustain movement to help minimise concentrated heat. Large and simple movements are effective when you are learning to manage fire.

— What to Do If I Get Burnt?

• If your hair or clothes catch fire — the protocol to extinguish a small flame is to press and slide, this smothers the flame of any oxygen. Do NOT pat at a flame as this increases oxygen that enhances combustion.

• If your skin gets burnt — you will experience a hot sensation, like any burn, cool running water, a cool compress or aloe vera are highly recommended. Oils, lotions, creams, moisturisers etc can trap in heat increasing your chance of blistering, therefore is NOT recommended.

• Seek medical advice if the burn is large, deep, or nauseating.

3. FIRE FUEL

— Different Types of Fuel:

• Shellite — is commonly used for Fire Eating and as a quick ignition Performance technique as the vapour is highly flammable which is desirable for advanced techniques not suitable for standard Fire Dancing as it produces an excess of heat and quick evaporation.

• Isopar / Fire Light / Fire Fuel — is our HIGHEST RECOMMENDED Fire Dancing Fuel. It is a cleaning solvent and has the most moderate and clean effects of all fuel.

• Kerosene or Lamp Oil — are not recommended. These fuels are increasingly dirty, oily, drying and damaging to your Fire Gear and to your body can trigger headaches, asthma, skin breakouts. In some countries this will be your primary option.

— Where to Buy Fire Dancing Fuel:

Australia

• Sydney Solvents (Discount % Code: Bella10)

• Threeworlds

Bali

• See this Community Spreadsheet

4. HOW TO FUEL

— What do you Need as a Fire Dancer?

• Fire Fuel in a Labelled Container

• Metal Dipping Container

• Funnel for Transferring Fuel

• Dry 100% Cotton Towel for Excess Fuel

• Damp 100% Cotton Towel for Extinguishing

— How to Set Up Your “Safety Zone”:

This is extremely important for not only your safety but also for the safety of anyone approaching / watching you.

• Have a Safety Zone behind where you will be dancing and position yourself in a way where any approaching watchers will unlikely walk, tip over your fuel or step on your gear

• Keep your Fire Gear and personal possessions somewhat separated to protect your belongings from any accidents or mess

• Try to have a light over your Safety Zone to see easily in the dark

• Place your Fuel and Dipping Container together and make sure any lids are on at all times you are not fuelling your gear

• Place your Damp Towel in a position either next to your Fuel with enough distance to avoid spillage OR close to where you will be dancing

— About Your Gear:

The “wicks” of your Fire Gear are made of Kevlar which is a highly durable fabric commonly used for bulletproof vests, motorcycle riding and fire fighting clothing. This fabric is used for its longevity. Standard Fire Fuel is not always combustible as a liquid without a carrier, likewise the Wick is not combustible without the Fuel. The Wick soaks up and absorbs the Fuel and is then able to ignite. When it ignites, your Fire Dance starts and we culturally call the duration of your dance “a burn”. Brand new Fire Gear will generally burn for about 4-5mins, older gear may burn for as little as 3mins as over time and use the wicks will deteriorate. Overall your wicks should last anywhere from 1-3 years depending on the frequency of use.

— Fuelling + Extinguishing Process:

• Dip the entire Wick into Fuel for about 6-8 seconds so that the liquid has fully saturated into the centre of the Wick (this is what will extend the duration of the Burn).

• If the dimensions of the gear you’re using does NOT easily Dip into a container than Pour Fuel into the centre of the Wick over an empty container to catch the Fuel

• Generously Shake Off and/or use a Dry Towel to Pat Off any Excess Fuel

• Make sure your Fuel is sealed

• Consider dampening or misting your hair with water

• Step away from your Safety Zone and use a lighter or flame to ignite your wicks from the bottom up

• If you feel the flames are getting too hot, keep them higher than your heart or even arms outstretched overhead, otherwise, big flowing movements will keep the heat manageable

• The first 2mins of your dance will be the biggest and hottest flames, the last 2mins will always be more manageable for your advanced or close body contact patterns

• You can either dance until the fire goes out, is small enough for you to blow out or you will extinguish the flames by placing them on your Damp Towel and completely smothering the Fire by covering an end of the Towel over the Wicks

• Always let your gear cool off before storing away

5. FIRE GEAR

— Common Types of Fire Gear:

• Fire Eating Torches

• Palm Candles

• Fire Fans

• Single Staff

• Double Staff

• Contact Staff

• Dragon Staff

• Poi

• Rope Dart

• Buugeng

• Levi Wand

• Lyco Clubs