Fire Safety Information
Our immersive and hands-on Fire Safety is the most important ritual that earns you an Ignite Fire Keeper title.
Read on.
Watch & Listen
Listen in and watch as Kiki & Gaea host the fire safety during our Shine Your Light 2021 retreat at Villa Larimar in St Croix, USVI.
This is intended for REVIEW PURPOSES only and never ever will take the place of a live, in person, training.
Watch fire being put out, see how to set up & use a dip station, and watch gaea talk with her hands, a lot. Yes, we are wearing fire fighter gear ;)
Do a BURN TEST
Bring a flame to an exposed part of fabric on an interior hem (not the thread, the fabric).
Natural fibers burn away + singe with a flame & a brown burn mark, while synthetic fibers melt together into a sticky hot then hard cold clump.
You can find natural fiber clothes at retailers, and perhaps in your own closet. We highly recommend thrift, resale, at normal stores for very reasonable prices. Get creative. Read those labels. :)
Fire Safe Clothes
Wear natural fibers to spin fire in :
cotton, wool, silk, leather, hemp, bamboo, linen.
Natural fibers are derived from plants or animals. They burn AWAY from skin and disintegrate.
Do not wear synthetic/plastic fibers
polyester, nylon, acrylic, tulle, faux fur, faux leather, etc…
These melt, causing a nasty burn on your skin.
some notes:
Modal fabrics are iffy- while they are made from bamboo or wood pulp, their varied chemical creation process can make each fabric different. Do a burn test.
Rayon is semi-synthetic and you must do a burn test.
Blends of 70% natural fiber & something else is okay, 90%+ is best.
You may use a 100% natural fiber shell underneath a questionable fabric. Use caution and discretion.
Undergarments should be natural fibers.
Gaea’s favorite Karuna dress made by her friend Irene in Costa Rica (with shorts underneath!) and a corset. :)
Below, LD in the Karuna onesie. Another fave.
Fire Gear FAQ:
What do I bring to a Fire Retreat or Gathering ?
Bring it all! Have your favorite options on hand to use (and share if you feel called). We always need extra flow/practice gear for workshops- please bring some to share if you can! There will be *some* tools available to borrow from the producers personal stash, and others participants will probably let you borrow it if you ask nicely, respect their gear, and return it when finished.
We recommend to get something of your own to burn and play with! If you do not yet have fire or practice gear, we recommend purchasing/making a fire tool or practice gear for you to get familiar with before the event itself.
**order your gear early, as artisans make these items and may need as much as 2-8 weeks for creation & shipping**
FIRE GEAR IS EASILY AVAILABLE in these modern days. :) the options are… vast! So reach out if you have questions. Beginner props can be fire torches, palm torches, fans (opt for 3-4 wicks that are slightly smaller), a staff, smaller poi, or… really whatever draws you. TIP: Make/order a practice prop to go with your fire prop, as dozens of hours of practice are needed for poi/spinning fans/staff/dragon/rope dart and some of the more complex props.
You can make your own staves, staff, poi, and non-fire hoops quite easily, or buy them as well. We will have some to share, but cannot guarantee enough for everyone to be using the same prop. So, if it interests you, bring one!
Fire Prop Types: (search any of these on youtube to watch videos)
Poi - the most common & versatile fire prop. Must practice before you light up!
Fans - dancing (larger, fancier) or tech (for spinning & manipulation)
Hoops - practice hooping for a few weeks/months before lighting up!
Torches - great for beginners
Hand Candles or Palm Torches - great for beginners
Staff - great for beginners, big fire but far from hands. Like flag corps…
Double Staves - 4 balls of fire. Much practice needed. Dual hands.
Contact Staff - a weighted staff to roll around your body.
Swords - powerful and lots of fire! Wear gloves.
Headdresses - worn on the head, must practice balancing.
Belts - worn around the waist. Be confident before using.
Puppy Hammer - 2 poi heads connected by a single rope.
Rope Dart - 1 fire head on a long rope.
More!
A few of our favorite vendors:
DRAKE! IG @drakesinferno & drakesinferno178@gmail.com
(a hometown favorite, creating custom fire gear & repairs)
https://www.synergyflowarts.com/ (hoops, fans, palms, quick wicks)
https://www.homeofpoi.com/ (practice poi, fire poi, tutorials)
https://www.forgedfans.com (Fans, doodle-grips, practice fans)
https://www.sacreddesignsflow.com/
https://dark-monk.com/ (for poi, staffs etc)
https://firemecca.com/ - fire & LED. been around forever and have most everything!
https://www.renegadejuggling.com/ (fire palms, breakdown staffs)
https://thespinsterz.com/collections/fire-flow-props
https://www.trickconcepts.com/fire-props/
https://www.retro.firegroove.com/Shop.htm
https://lighttoys.cz (LED toys, takes a long time to ship)
https://www.firetoys.co.uk (has SO much circus, fire, flow, aerial equipment. in britain, takes a long time to ship)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DEFWORKS (torches, staves, crowns, etc.)
https://ninjapyrate.com/(sklitter, staffs)
And search what tool you are interested in to see what it moves like & what you desire to play with
Clothing Artisans
SUPPORT SMALL Businesses!
Here are some of our favorite natural fiber clothing artisans & small businesses for styled fire safe clothes.
(double check to make sure what you’re ordering is a natural fiber! Vendors carry multiple fabrics :)
https://wearharmonicthreads.com/
https://www.noralinafreedom.com/
https://www.melodiadesigns.com/
https://www.kayoanimeclothing.com/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MoWestCreations
https://www.serpent-and-bow.com/
https://thefairiespyjamas.com/
https://thesustainablelivingguide.com/organic-clothes-brands/
Traveling with Fire Gear
Car Travel:
Air out, wipe off gear, & cover wicks with plastic before putting into your car. This keeps the fumes from smelling up your car or getting soot on the inside.
Empty all dip cans, tightly close all fuel, & place into a secondary container (a large plastic bin works great).
Wring out safety towels and shake off outside (esp if there’s sand)
Air Travel:
CHECK A BAG with your gear on the airplane (we don’t recommend carrying it on).
Don’t bring fuel or lighters. ever.
CLEAN
Burn all wicks off to completion so there’s no fuel left. Air your wicks out as long as possible so there’s no live fuel residue/smell.
Use a paper towel or a wipe to remove as much soot as you can from the tools themselves.
Cover wicks with plastic wrap + seal in a plastic ziplock bag.
Wash or air out a safety towel.
Try not to use kerosene, as it carries more scent.
TRAVEL BAGS
STURDY BAGS or CASES: Larger items that don’t break down like a staff can go in a sturdy baseball, ski, or rifle bags/cases
HARD CASES : Fans, headdresses, hoops (coiled down), & other large delicate items travel best in hard cases.
Don’t try to check gear in a big plastic bag!
Hoops should collapse or fit in a hard case, or collapse & attach to the outside of your bag.
Removable wicks are a plus!
INFORMATION
Write a note about their use & even print out a photo of you spinning fire or the retreat flier! (just in case). If you carry insurance, place a print out with your gear.
Don’t mention it to the attendants. They’ll get confused, will bring attention to it, and then not know what to do with it... and then may refuse you to bring it because they just don’t know. Better not to say anything!