Fire Volunteer Instructions

Show up to the fire safety meeting either Thursday 1pm at Love & Lions or Friday 1pm at Camp Lamp to get the run down on fire safety protocols, and fire spinning/safetying/burn night/perimeter information.

Fire Core Organization and Processes

Responsibilities of the Core Leads

Pre-Event

• Speaking with bug crew before building to understand structure and burn plan
• Staying in touch with bug crew during work weekends for updates
• Coordinating with conclave crew about unique lighting props approval
• Working closely with temple artists to balance artistic vision with safety requirements
• Coordinating fire core policies documentation on website (wording coordination needed)
• Managing equipment custody (Core Lead 1 currently has duvetines)
• Purchasing and maintaining equipment (duvetines purchased fresh from Dark Monk after flood damage)

At-Event

Bug Burn

• Safety inspection: structure, gas lines, fueling, lighting setup
• Ensuring safe crowd distance (2x height minimum)
• Day-of safety checks: hill/incline/ground stability
• Coordinating timing and performance planning between fire conclave and bug lighting crew
• Radio coordination throughout the event
• Monitoring structure burn with bug crew to identify safety concerns
• Giving final authorization to drop perimeter after full collapse
• Sometimes doing safetying personally for solo performers lighting the bug
• Gas line safety (Core Lead 2’s responsibility), placement coordination (Core Lead 1’s responsibility)
• Note: gas lines aren’t always present (last year was a late addition)

Temple Burn

• Similar safety responsibilities but more complex coordination
• More constrained audience positioning (180 degrees vs 360 degrees for bug)
• Coordinating with rangers for perimeter formation
• More delicate coordination required due to ceremonial nature and gravitas
• Sometimes positioned near other downhill areas requiring careful audience management

Other

• Core Lead 2 serves as default IC for Bug Burn
• Core Lead 1 handles choreography and coordination of performers
• Close supervision/overseeing of Conclave performance
• Providing duvetines for conclave performance

Considerations for Fire Art Registration Form

• References made to online fire policies documents that couldn’t be located in shared Firefly Drive
• Fire core policies available on website but need wording coordination

Misc

• High quality duvetines expected to last multiple years
• Previous duvetine batch lost to flooding

• Pre-Event Coordination:
• Discuss structure and burn plans with the bug crew
• Coordinate with conclave crew for lighting props approval
• Site Inspection:
• Check hill/incline/ground stability for performer safety
• Safety Management:
• Ensure safety during the bug burn and temple burn
• Monitor gas line placements and safety
• Performance Coordination:
• Plan performance timing and safe distances
• Communicate with crews via radio during events
• Policy and Equipment:
• Update fire safety policies
• Purchase and maintain safety equipment like duvetyne

• Bug burn
• Conclave process
• Temple burn
• Fire circle check-ins
• Other FAST-related logistics
• Budgeting for Conclave (e.g. fuel)
• Fire circles and fire places
• Fire safety meetings
• Bug burn logistics (coordinating the different cores and being the main point person)
• Ensure coverage for all big burns even if I wasn’t the one in charge
• Perimeters for all burns (Bug Burn now has its own Perimiter core)
• Ensure we had burn permits (this never fell directly on me, though I always triple checked we did have all necessary permits)
• Work with co-lead to ensure fire art is safely placed and inspected

Thing	By when	Notes
Refresh the Firefly Art Registration form		In June 2025, this web page has the link to the form: https://www.fireflyartscollective.org/art-at-firefly/fire-art/
Budget for Fuel		During the budget cycle