Fire Spinning

Warning: This is a guide for minimising risks. Anything to do with fire is, by its nature dangerous. The author of this guide can accept no responsibility for ANY injuries caused by fire spinning and the use of this guide is entirely at the individuals own risk.

Warning 2: This is a guide for WHEN something goes wrong. When you spin fire you WILL burn hair, arms, hands, face and pretty much anything else attached to you at some point. Hopefully by following this guide these will only be superficial; but if you are going to spin fire expect to get burnt.


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In recent years there has been a large increase in the popularity of fire spinning and circus skills in general. This is especially apparent at festivals where people with poi and staff are now a common sight. With this there has also been an increase in the number of people who spin fire. This is excellent if done safely, the aim of this article is to teach this safety.

Who this is for:
This guide will cover the general basics of fire spinning and juggling. I primarly spin poi so this is written from that point of view but most is transferable.

I will not cover fire breathing as this is very dangerous and should not be attempted unless you have had professional training: the range of things that can go horribly wrong is huge (read this if you want to get an idea). I will also only cover the very basics of first aid for burns.

KEY RULES:

1. ALWAYS have a fire blanket
2. Keep your fuel dump away from where you will perform
3. Know your first aid and make sure your spotters knows it too
   
4. Practice unlit with your spotter
5. If it goes wrong: stay calm.
6. Save yourself first, toys second
7. Wear a hat
8. Give yourself lots of room
9. Use paraffin as fuel
   
10. Enjoy yourself!
    

Before you try:

• The first thing you should do before even touching any fire toys is to use them unlit; most fire gear will be significantly heavier than normal toys and you need to get used to this.

• Now find a spotter: someone who you trust who will watch your back (and front) for you setting alight to yourself
• Now decide on a safe word to be used if your spotter sees something wrong; fire doesn't really work. Red is generally very good.
• Practice how you and your spotter will react to a fire (see 'When it goes wrong') - if you use poi practice untangling them from around yourself and each other.
  

Setting up:

• First find somewhere that you are legally allowed to spin, away from roads (you don't want to distract drivers) and where you can see people coming so that you can stop and let them by safely.
  

• Now you need to designate a few areas:

• Performance area: this needs to be large enough for you to move around in, free from anything flammable (grass is ok so long as you put it out as soon as it catches) and with nothing over head. 

• Fuel area: this needs to be out of the wind so that you can light your equipment easily and at least 3m from safety area and as far from your performance area as you can reasonably make it (at least 7 m)

• Safety area: this is where you keep your spotter, your first aid gear and any audience you may have this needs to be at least 7m from the performance area as well
  

• Assemble and double check all your gear - make sure all quick links are firmly tightened, all staff sections fully together, that all your safety gear is still good (no rings pulled on extinguishers, fire blankets unused, first aid equipment in date) dipping bucket hole free.
  

• Now you need to fill your paraffin container (metal bucket with a half brick in the bottom is best) and soak your wicks. Most wicks need at least 2 minutes prior to burning to be well soaked and useable.
• Put on your hat
• Once your wicks are well soaked spin off the excess and light from the bottom.
  

Your first spin:

• Do it in daylight. This way any tangles or similar can be seen and dealt with. The night isn't going to go away and you can enjoy the full affect once you are more confident
• Stick to the most basic moves that you know. It doesn't matter if you can do a behind the back 5-beat weave; first time you use fire stick to simple stuff that you know. 
• Enjoy it

Once you have spun
Once your toy is out (either by spinning it very fast, blowing it out or using a fire blanket or similar):

• Dip it (briefly back in the paraffin) this helps preserve the wicks
• Re-check links and such
• Check with your spotter how they think it went.

When it goes wrong (because it will one day):

• You need to drop the toy (if you use poi or similar practice unwrapping them from various body parts) and move away from it.

• Your spotter needs to first put you out using a fire blanket. If its small just smother it (for at least 2 minutes) if its larger drop and roll.
  
• Once you are safe put out the toy.
• Any first aid that is needed

First aid for burns (please read the NHS link for treatment in addition to this):

• PUT IT UNDER RUNNING WATER FOR AT LEAST 10 Min: this helps clean and stop the burn progressing.
• Do NOT use any creams etc. most of these will trap more heat ONLY use running water
• If it is a large burn go to hospital (anything larger than a pack of cards or a blister greater than 4cm diameter)
  
• If in doubt phone and get help
  

General Tips:

• Clothing should be:
  
• Comfortable
• Natural fibres (cotton, denim etc)
  
• Old enough to be covered in black soot
• Dry (damp clothes will boil you if you aren't careful)
• Wear a hat - hair burns VERY easily
  
• Clothing should NOT:
• Be baggy
• or be restrictive to movement
  
• Have anything hanging from it (it will get caught and tangle)
• Made from man-made materials - these will melt onto your body.
• Obscure your vision
• Extinguishers:
• For fire toys the best thing you can have for general use is a fire blanket. They are cheap and easy to use
  
• Water extinguishers can be used but you will ruin your wicks
• If you don't have a fire blanket - get one. Failing that a wet towel works well
  
• Fuels: 
• Use paraffin: It doesn't burn too hot, it is reasonably clean burning, it will not poison you, it is very unlikely to explode
• Wick care:
• Keep them dry and clean
• Coat the edges with PVA glue to help preserve them
• If they are new let them soak for about 20 min
• Audiences:
• Will walk VERY close to you - have your spotter direct them away if possible but be aware
  
• If you spin in any public space you will get one
• DONT let them try fire spinning
• Keep them in the safety area
• Be polite, they will often ask a lot of questions and you are representing all spinners

Further reading:
Home of poi has some excellent articles on fire spinning as well as more advanced information (coloured fire and similar)

NHS information on burn classification, on burn treatment and on aftercare