Lakes of Fire: Great Lakes Regional Burn

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JUNE 20-23 2013 - Lucky Lake Camp Ground - Rothbury Michigan

Fire Art Safety Team for Lakes of Fire 2013

Expectations and Guidelines

Grettings (Level I) Fire Spinners and (Level II) Flame Effects Operators. Thank you so much for wanting to bring your Fire Art to Lakes of Fire. It would not be the same without you.

Please read this whole document while it is lengthy it is very important that you honor these expectations and follow these guidelines in order for our event to pass inspection by the Local Fire Marshall as well as be conducted safely for each of the participants.

Please be aware that if you do not follow these guidelines, you will not be granted permission to burn at Lakes of Fire.

Flame Effects Registration

Once we have received your Flame Effects Application that includes your Flame Effects Scenario, Diagrams, Safety plan and Leave No Trace Plan, a dialogue with a member of the Fire Art Safety Team will take place. If everything seems to be in order the first phase of approval will be in place. Notification of any changes to the art must be resubmitted in writing to F.A.S.T. at least 1 month before Lakes of Fire and the same process will ensue.

You will also find a list of fire safety related questions to consider about your piece below that we need you to be able to answer in order to determine how best help you bring your artistic vision to life, as well as keep participants and their gear free from harm.

Flame Effects must be registered by May 17, 2013.

Large Fires must be registered by April 29, 2013.

In keeping with the Principles of TTITD it is our civic duty to follow Local and State laws esp. as they relate to fire. These practices also aid us in protecting our community, by making local authorities happy to see us. To accomplish this we need to know what you are bringing to the event that is fire related and what it is made of.  We require you to fill out the Flame Effects Application.

Thank you for interest in bringing Flame Effects to Lakes of Fire 2013 we look forward to burning brightly with you!

Lakes of Fire F.A.S.T. (Fire Art Safety Team)

Feel free to contact us at

Burning Art Restrictions

(Group VII Flame Effects)

Prohibited Materials

Below are the Burn Restrictions with a list of materials that we have to prohibit from all fires at LoF, as well as safety guidelines that we must require of you in order to prevent damage and/or disasters at the event.

  • No Fireworks
  • No synthetic fabrics (synthetics can throw off flakes of burning, melting ash) only 100% cotton/natural fabrics. Only a minimal amount of natural fabrics may be used in any piece- consult F.A.S.T before burning to discuss.
  • No plastics/PVC 
  • No glue-based wood materials such as micro density fiberboard MDF, melamine.
  • No chipboard/particleboard. Tempered Hardboard is acceptable as it has a low environmental impact. Most hardboard does not use glues or resins to bind the fibers. Hardboard is almost entirely made of wood. 
  • Nothing classified as a hazardous material by the postal service (usps.com/ship/can-you-ship-it.htm).
  • No oxidizers.
  • No flame retardants.
  • No fireworks of any kind.
  • No electrical components.
  • No treated color paper or chemicals of any kind to create color when burning as that is toxic. Construction paper is safe to use.
  • No magazines/newspapers/cardboard/paperboard/posterboard/phonebooks/etc. Contact F.A.S.T. if you need an exception to this rule, such as heavy mailing tubes.
  • No pressure-treated wood. (Beware the green tint- it may contain arsenic).
  • No pressure vessels (even empty ones); including spray paint cans, propane canisters, etc.
  • No treated driftwood Natural wood, sticks, etc. are OK.
  • No gasoline.
  • No white gas (other then poi/fire breathing use).
  • No lighter fluid.
  • No LNG (liquefied natural gas).
  • No paint with a heavy metal pigment (red/yellow/black lead, cadmium, chrome etc). All paint should be thin layers of color wash. ie..watered down paint in multiple layers.
  • No more than a minimal amount of duct tape. It should only be used as a fastener. Paper based tape would be preferred, example would be gaffers. Use both in small quantities, as it should be avoided as a structural element.

**If you have questions, contact F.A.S.T. BEFORE you burn**

Safety & Clean Up Guidelines

  1. Stuff burning on the effigy burn pad needs to fit inside the space F.A.S.T. has created. Please consult for size.
  2. If you aren't on the effigy burn pad, you need to keep your piece contained to a 10x10x10 space or a 5x5x5 space depending on where F.A.S.T. assigns you at LoF.
  3. No piece can be larger than 10 feet tall EVER. We do not have the ability to control a fire piece larger than that.
  4. Your piece needs to be in place and complete an hour prior to your scheduled burn time. Your piece gets fueled 30 minutes prior to your scheduled burn time. After your piece gets fueled, you need to have someone physically present to keep an eye on it (keep an eye out for smokers, folks spinning poi, etc). Pre-soaking logs with fuel can improve the lighting of your piece; if you're not burning on a stack, consider pre-soaking a few.
  5. Please use ferrous hardware (screws, nails, etc) that can be picked up with a magnetic sweeper. If you have an artistic need to use small, sharp, non-ferrous pieces (brass tacks or whatever), please alert F.A.S.T. and list clean up methods in your LNT plan.
  6. As the artist, please verify and have a F.A.S.T. Team member clear that your piece has been cleaned up prior to noon the day after your burn . ( F.A.S.T. is not responsible for your piece being cleaned up, you are.)
  7. As a general rule of thumb, accelerants that are thicker than water (kero, diesel, lamp oil, tiki fuel, bio-diesel (this probably won't work well, but we won't object to you using it), paraffin, etc) is allowed, and most of the ones thinner than water (gasoline, white gas, Coleman fuel, LNG, etc) are not. If you're unsure, ask F.A.S.T.. Any kind of pressurized canister is not allowed. Remember, the goal is to burn wood, not accelerants, and with proper construction, you don't need much accelerant. The best way to light your piece is how you start a campfire: with kindling and paper. No accelerant liquids can touch the ground at LoF.
  8. No elevated observation platforms associated with burning art pieces unless it has installed railings.
  9. Obey MI law on transporting firewood (including brush and driftwood) across state lines, due to concerns about transporting pests like the emerald ash borer (emeraldashborer.info/firewood.cfm).

Propane Flame Effects Safety Guidelines

(Group II, III, IV & V)

Cylinders, Hose Lines, Fittings, Values, Piping, etc.

All LP gas cylinders must have an unexpired certification date stamp and be in good working order. Tanks in poor condition or out of date are a danger to fill and may cause injury to the fuel team, the artists, and/or participants.

All LP Flame Effects must have 1/4-turn shut-off valves at each fuel supply connection as a primary emergency fuel shutoff point. These valves must be exposed and visible at all times. This valve also gives the artist control of the gas supply without having to manipulate the multi-turn supply valve on the tank itself. 

All fuel lines used must be rated for both pressure and for the type of fuel being used. This information must be printed on the fuel lines at the time of on-playa inspection. Air or pneumatic line is not acceptable as fuel hose. LP gas degrades rubber hose not specifically designed for use with that fuel. This results in the hose cracking from the inside out, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure.

All fittings, piping, valves and connectors must also be designed and rated for the pressures and fuel type used. The use of lead soldered fittings is prohibited in the fuel systems of any Flame Effect. The use of improper fittings can lead to leaks and failures in the fuel system resulting in fires and or injury. If you are using unregulated propane (full tank pressure) schedule 80 piping is required.

Hose clamps are prohibited on any fuel lines. All fuel hose connections must be factory made, or constructed with a crimped fitting specifically designed for that purpose. Hose clamps are well known for cutting and chafing fuel lines, or coming loose, possibly leading to catastrophic failure.

Accumulators, pressure vessels, and all associated piping and fittings must be rated for the operating pressures at which your Flame Effect is operating. Any welding alteration tanks used as accumulators or pressure vessels must be fabricated by an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) certified welder, and must be re-stamped and certified as such. Catastrophic failure of accumulators or pressure vessels can result in leaks or explosions. 

In Flame Effects where the gas supply pressure is higher than the rated operating pressure of the accumulators or pressure vessels, a regulator must be properly installed on the supply side of the accumulator or pressure vessel. Also, an over-pressure device must be properly installed in the vapor space of the accumulator or pressure vessel.

Flame Effects Operator Guidelines

(Group I Operator)

Hello Fire Spinners and Dedicated Fire Safeties.  F.A.S.T.  (Fire Art Safety Team) is hard at work getting all fire performances and fire art in compliance for the officials so we can all do what we do best -- play with fire!

In order to do that we are creating a very detailed Burn Plan, please read the following as they are items that pertain to Fire Performers and Safety's.

No matter if you wish to spin in conclave or elsewhere during the event please follow basic fire safety rules for Lucky Lake;

Fire Spinning

Our agreement with the Township says that all fire on the grounds--including poi-- will be safe and legal. Not sure how to do that? We will have a pamphlet for all fire artists at the gate and at the F.A.S.T. HQ (see map)  also please consider attending one of our safety meetings.

A few things to remember: Never leave unattended fuel on the ground, always have a fire safety with you with an extinguisher and/or wet towels on hand.  Again, Safe, Sane and Sober spinning!

Please know that if you spin anytime while at Lucky Lake No tools can go in the water...Please Do Not extinguisher your fire tool in the water, we do not wish to contaminate Lucky Lake.

Please do not spin fire in the pinewoods; the dried needles are very fire prone and the land owner politely requests that we not set his woods on fire! Again, Safe, Sane and Sober spinning!

Fire spinners have the opportunity to participate in the Fire Conclave procession and performance before the Effigy burns! If your fire group of at least 3 or more wants to participate please fill out the application by June 1, 2013. If you have any questions please write to the Lakes of Fire Conclave Team, at .  Details of participating with Conclave will be sent via email to conclave applicants.  As all fire art should, Conclave is run in a safe, sane and sober (and legal) manner.  Those who wish to participate in conclave will be required to follow that motto and any other requirements of the Fire Conclave Team. As always please bring your safety equipment as well as your fire tools.

Fire Conclave must be registered by June 1, 2013: Conclave Application

Conclave Fire Safeties

Thank you very much for helping to keep your community safe because without enough of you we may have to cut back on the amount of spinners we have. We prefer to have people who have done fire safety previous to the event. Even if you have never done fire safety please come to our Fire Safety Meetings, you can start to learn here.   Each Fire Safety will have a pod of up to 3 people to watch for ignited performers to extinguish as well as put out fire tools that do not run out of fuel.  Please if you have Duvytene bring a piece or bring a dark towel. Let us know if you are not able to provide either of these tools to extinguisher tools. We will have fire extinguishers on site during Conclave

Fire Safety Meetings

Two Fire Safety Meetings will be held before Conclave.  One on Friday and one on Saturday at 4pm location TBA (Info at F.A.S.T. HQ). It will be mandatory for anyone wishing to be in Conclave to attend one of them. You will receive your conclave laminates at the meeting, even for the fire safety crew. You will not be allowed into the fire circle on burn night without one.

Fire Safety Equipment

As always please bring your safety equipment! If you have extra Duvytene or dark towels for safety's to use please bring it. Bring your fire extinguishers and your burn kits also. The more we are all prepared the better it is for our community. 

Location of Conclave

The exact location, size and orientation of the Effigy that Conclave performs around is determined by many factors. This information is released closer to the event. While this doesn't affect much for Fire Artists of Conclave it does have connection to what type of performance can be contained within the perimeter (choreographed or free style). Our goal is to incorporate both styles into Conclave. As the event date approaches and Conclave performers are registered, any pertinent information about location and position within the Conclave perimeter will be shared with registered performers.

If you wish to choose your pods ahead of time please do so and let conclave know at who you wish to be grouped with in your application.

Even if you don’t choose a pod to perform with Free Style spinners will be grouped in small pods as well. We have to have pods to have fire safeties assigned to you, thank you for your corporation on that.

Email Conclave at   for more information. Details of participating with Conclave will be sent via email to conclave applicants. As all fire art should be, Conclave is run in a safe, sane, and sober (legal) manner. Those who wish to participate in conclave will be required to follow that motto and any other requirements of the Fire Conclave Team:

Contact

If you have questions, contact F.A.S.T. BEFORE you burn:

Thank you,
F.A.S.T.