Fire Fans - Five Finger

 

Here are some of our best tips to get the most out of your fire props as well as how to light up with the safety of yourself and others in mind.

PREPARING YOUR NEW WICKS

It is important to properly prepare the wick before every burn to ensure you are both lighting up safely as well as prolonging the life of the wick as much as possible.

• Pour your fuel in a safe fuel container that will allow you to immerse your wick completely in the fuel.
• Soak the wick in the fuel until it is completely soaked through, approx. 10 mins.
• All successive burns only require a short dip in the fuel before burning. Just enough to get the wick wet.
• Shake out or spin off excess fuel from the wick after dipping and before lighting. 
• ALWAYS IGNITE AWAY FROM FUEL CONTAINERS!
• It's a good idea to put the flame out before it naturally runs out as this makes sure only the fuel is burnt and stops the wick itself from burning.

MAINTENANCE & CARE

Following proper maintenance care will prolong the life of your fire toys to get as many burns as possible out of them.

• Never leave the wick smouldering – once the flame has burnt out, completely put out with a damp 100% cotton towel.
• Check your equipment before each use for any damage, to ensure it is safe to use and spin.
• Check for loose screws and tighten if any are loose.
• Replace any broken or damaged parts immediately.
• Protect the wicks when not in use with wick covers (socks work well for this).
• If the wick is frayed, trim before lighting up again.
• To prolong the life of your wicks avoid dropping or hitting the Kevlar wicks onto concrete or hard and abrasive surfaces or objects.
• Treat your items with care and use as intended. 

SPIN SAFELY

As much as spinning with fire is heaps of fun, it's just as important to do it safely. These tips and procedures should always be followed, no matter how many times you've lit up before.

FUEL
• We highly recommend our FIRELIGHT FUEL; Itʼs a clean burning, low odour fuel.
• Your fuel container should have a secure lid that will not spill if it is knocked over. Always keep your fuel container stored far away from any flames and away from any fire spinning.
• Your fuel container should be labelled that it contains flammable and dangerous goods, including the name of the fuel. 
• Kerosene/Citronella are also options. Each fuel has different properties such as volatility, burning temperature and flashpoint. You can find out these specifications in the chemical's MSDS. 
• Store fuel away from children and away from where you are spinning and away from where any fire will be.

FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
• Always have a fire extinguisher and/or a damp 100% cotton towel on hand.
• Fire safety equipment should be kept in close proximity so that easily accessible if needed.
• Your fire safety assistant should be trained how to use these items safely and be in charge of where they are located.

WHAT TO WEAR
• Never wear loose or highly flammable synthetic clothing (natural, tight fitting fabrics are best). 
• No dangly items worn.
• Keep long hair tied back.
• Lightly wet your hair if possible before spinning.
• Avoid the use of hairsprays, gels, and other products.

SAFETY ASSISTANT
• Never spin alone. You should have someone else with you that is also comfortable around fire and knows first aid for burns. This person should also be watching your surroundings and if in public, act as the 'crowd control' and make sure your spinning area is big enough.
• Adult supervision and consent is required for persons under 18 years old.

ENVIRONMENT
• Fire spin outdoors only.
• Spin on flat ground that is dry and free of any slip hazards.
• Do not spin in dry bushland or forests as this can cause bush/forest fires. 
• Spin away from any obstacles (around and overhead) and be observant to who and what is around you.
• Be responsible for your own and otherʼs personal safety.
• Please respect any local and/or state fire bans and restrictions.
• Obtain any permits if required to spin in public places, varies from county to country.

EQUIPMENT
• Be aware of the props that you are spinning with and its intended use and its limitations
• Remember that Carbon Fibre is heat proof, but not flame proof. Precautions should be taken with this in mind such as keeping the prop moving to control the flame and taking wind direction into consideration to keep the flame away from you and the Carbon Fibre. 
• Remember that while Aluminium is flame and heat proof, your hands are not! Aluminium gets very hot where it is close to the flame so you should be careful to only touch the gripped part of the product while spinning to avoid burns.  
• Products should only be used for its intended use and misuse of products can result in injuries and damage to your toy. 

CONTROL THE FLAME
• Know the nature of fire. Fire will always burn from the bottom up, so when holding fire stationary be intentional with how you are holding it. For example, hold hoops horizontally so the flame does not touch the tubing. Keep poi gently swaying to keep the heat away from your hands. Hold fans upward away from the body or horizontally away from the body.
• Once lit always keep the flame moving, even if slightly, to help control the flame and the heat. Avoid remaining motionless and start spinning and moving the prop as soon as safely possible.
• Be aware of the direction of the wind and how it affects the flame. Usually you would want the wind at your back so that it blows the flame away from your body and not toward you.

TRICKS
• Never light up until you are comfortable, practiced and confident with the prop without fire.
• Take it easy for your first light-up, there's no rush to spin with fire. 
• Do not learn or practise new tricks when lit-up.

First Aid

In the case of an accident or burn, it's important to know the steps to take before it happens.

WHAT TO DO IF CLOTHING CATCHES FIRE

 

1. Follow DRSABCD

   Danger - Response - Send for help - Airway - Breathing - CPR - Defibrillation

2. Remember STOP, DROP & ROLL

3. Stop the person from moving around.

4. Drop the person to the ground and cover or wrap them in a fire blanket, 100% cotton wet towel or similar, if available.

5. Roll the person along the ground until the flames are extinguished.

6. Extinguish any burning props and ensure the area is safe. 

7. Manage the burn.

FOR ALL BURNS

1.  If the burn is severe or if it involves the airway, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

2. As soon as possible, hold the burnt area under cool running water for 20 minutes.

3. Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burnt area, unless they are stuck to the burn.

4. Cover the burn with a light, loose nonstick dressing, preferably clean, dry, non-fluffy material (eg plastic cling film).

5. Continue to check the patient for shock, and treat if necessary.

 Seek medical advice if the burn is deep or larger than a 20 cent piece.

 

Reference: St John's Ambulance 

QUALITY

We use only quality materials to maximise safety, durability and fun.
Now you are ready to light up and express your unique self, exploring your skills and becoming part of the worldwide fire community.

Made by Spinners for Spinners

We're fire spinners too and know what a great fire prop feels like. We've been making fire toys for over 20 years and have been continually improving our design to bring you the highest quality fire twirling equipment on the market.

Kevlar

Burns well over 100 times! Fire resistant Kevlar wicks withstand 100's of burns, offering super long-lasting flames. The Kevlar absorbs the fuel, then once lit the fuel is burnt, leaving the Kevlar intact.

 

Perfectly Weighted

Our design ensures that all our fire props are well weighted while still offering a good flame size. We take into account all the factors required for an effortless and smooth flow.