Fire Safety Protocols

Fire Safety & Fire Depot personnel

• Always have at least one designated fire safety for every two performers to maintain optimal safety coverage. For shows with more than three fire performers we have two fire safeties, one in the front watching the performers and one assisting performers backstage with fueling and squeezing off excess fuel from props.

• The main role of the fire safety is to ensure the performer, venue, and audience is safe during the duration of the show. If a performer catches fire during the performance, the fire safety will blow a loud whistle to catch the performers, attention, immediately signaling to the performer where they need to extinguish a fire on their body. If the performer doesn’t hear the fire safeties alarm or cannot put out the fire on their own, this is when the fire safety personnel will help extinguish the fire with the fire blanket. Always make sure to put the blanket against the highest part of the flame and swipe downwards.

Fire Safety personnel equipment and attire:
Fire safety personnel are equipped with essential materials to extinguish flames, including:

• Fire blankets

• Whistle

• Leather gloves

• Damp wool fire blanket, duvetyne, or a slightly dampened cotton towel — NOT wet.

• Spray bottle with water for dampening fire blanket.

• Extra lighter.

• Fire extinguishers — ABC rated extinguishers for emergencies.

• Additionally, fire safeties must wear fire-safe clothing and accessories (made of natural fibers like cotton) and hair tied back from the face.

Dedicated Attention During Performances:

• Fire safeties must remain exclusively focused on maintaining the safety of the performers and audience members. They are vigilant and ready to intervene if necessary.

Audience Interaction:

• Fire safeties must ensure that no audience members enter the performance area. Reminder: Audience participation is strictly prohibited when fire is present.

• If a lit prop is to leave the stage area/dropped by a performer, it is the fire safety duty to retrieve that prop and ensure that the audience does not come near a lit fire prop.

Three Separate Areas:
Clearly establish and label the following zones:

1. Performance Area:

   A designated space that is separate from the audience or general public. Area is marked off with rope lights, flags, and cones.

2. Fuel Station Canopy:

   Safe zone for handling fuel, dipping and preparing props.

   • Fuel Station Safety:

     • Keep all fueling materials (e.g., Ziploc bags for squeezing wicks, fine nozzle squirt bottles, and fire-safe containers) in a bright, clearly labeled container.

     • Avoid "spit-off" by thoroughly squeezing off excess fuel from wicks to prevent accidents involving the audience, performer, or stage environment.

     • Never smoke or have an open flame near the fuel station.

3. Prop Stands:

   • on the outside of the canopy fuel station, there will be a designated area for props to cool off after being lit on fire. Hot props should not go inside the canopy where fuel is being stored.

Audience and Fuel Station Distance:
Ensure the fuel station is inaccessible to the audience or unauthorized Cloud Nine Personnel. Fuel station needs to be ant least 15 feet from the performance area.

Fuel Station Safety:

• Ensure that all fuel containers are properly labeled with the fuel, they are intended to be holding. (Ex. Paint can labeled “50/50 white gas and kerosene” , ammo can labeled “white Gas Only”) all fuels should be funneled back into their original factory containers to prevent chemical leakage from other containers that are not rated to hold fuel.

• Keep all fueling materials (e.g., Ziploc bags for squeezing wicks, fine nozzle squirt bottles, supplies, in a clearly labeled container.

• Avoid "spit-off" by thoroughly squeezing off excess fuel from wicks while dipping to prevent accidents involving the audience, performer, or environment.

  • NEVER smoke or have an open flame near the fuel station.

• Site Assessment:

  • Upon arrival, inspect the venue for hazards such as uneven terrain, hanging light fixtures, flammable materials, or dry vegetation.

  • Establish clear boundaries for the performance area, fuel station, and spin-off zones.

• Weather Conditions:

  • Assess outdoor conditions, especially wind, and adjust performances as necessary. Do not perform if weather conditions are unsafe.

• Regulations and Permits:

  • Familiarize yourself with local fire bans or regulations, and secure any necessary permits for PUBLIC fire shows.

  • Communicate with the local fire department to ensure the performance complies with safety standards.

Hair & clothing protection:

• Hair should be tied back or concealed (ex. Beanie, hood, bandana) before lighting up a prop, mist hair with water to help prevent immediate catching.

• Clothing should be fitted, to avoid getting clothing tangled up with a lit prop. Clothing used for fire spinning should be made from Natural fibers. Natural fibers will burn to ash when lit on fire instead of melting to the skin like synthetic fibers will.

• Natural fibers: Cotton, leather, denim, silk, hemp, linen, and wool.

• Synthetic fibers: Polyester, spandex, nylon, acrylic, acetate, Rayon.

Mental and Physical Readiness:

• Ensure all performers are mentally and physically prepared to handle fire. We take stretching, hydration, and nutrition, very seriously, especially during showtime to ensure that all the crew members are in the best mindset possible.

• It is absolutely imperative to NEVER handle fire while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Emergency Preparedness:

• Know the emergency exit routes at the venue and discuss a plan with the client/venue in case of emergencies.

• Review the safety plan with all team members before every performance. Ensure that everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are located as well as the fire blankets.