PortalBurn Fire Policy

Campfires must be at your campsite, in a burn barrel or fire pit elevated off the ground, and attended at all times.  Camps with fire pits MUST have a fire extinguisher (5 pound, ABC type) or a 5-gallon filled water-bucket readily available.  If you bring fire, you must be responsible, and Leave No Trace.

DO NOT bring outside firewood. POrtalBurn will provide approved firewood for camp burn barrels and fire pits.  All ashes (hot or cold) must be deposited in the approved ash dump.

All artists who are engaging in fire performance on site must be listed on the fire performer signup sheet regardless of whether they are participating in the fire conclave event. Fire performers may only perform after safety training and approval by an approved fire safety instructor. While performing, fire performers must be capable of operating a fire prop safely. Any member of the event leadership may prohibit a performer from operating flames at their discretion. 

All areas used for fire performance must be approved via the art placement form and the FAST team. Each fire performance area must be delineated with a continuous illuminated boundary (such as LED rope light). Liquid fuels must be stored in an approved metal container suitable for flammable liquids and separate from the performance area.  Fuel storage areas must have a 5lb Class BC extinguisher suitable for fuel fires. All fire performers shall have a trained Fire Safety equipped with a fire-resistant safety blanket.  Each safety shall be responsible for a single performer at a time.

Flame effects are art pieces that use pressurized liquid or gaseous fuels to create a wide array of visual and auditory effects. Store-bought, UL-approved patio heaters, fire pits, lamps and lanterns, cooking units and other unmodified UL-approved appliances that burn LP-Gas are not considered “flame effects” for purposes of this section. However, due caution in using such appliances is still required, including but not limited to locating them sensibly, securing them from wind, checking them for leaks, and so on.  These devices shall be relocated or shut down upon request from Fire Safety, Rangers, or DPW.

All flame effects used at the event must be designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with the NFPA160 Standard for the Use of Flame Effects Before an Audience, the Burning Man Flame Effect Guidelines, and any other applicable regulations. Flame effects must be approved in advance by the Fire Safety team, either through the art grant process or via the art placement form.  All flame effects shall be inspected by the Fire Safety team prior to operation onsite.  Once they have passed inspection, approved flame effects will be conspicuously marked with a tag located adjacent to the main fuel shutoff valve.  This approval may be revoked at any time if malfunction or unsafe operation is witnessed by an event staff member.  A list of qualified flame effect operators shall be submitted by each flame effect artist and one of these operators must be present and sober at all times when the flame effect is in operation.

All flame effects must be adequately secured (ie: no handheld poofers etc). Mutant vehicles may only operate approved flame effects while parked in open areas with an appropriate radius from any overhead foliage or other combustible materials.  Flame effects must have a 5lb Class BC fire extinguisher located adjacent to the main fuel shutoff valve.

Burnable art is any piece of combustible material which is intended for open burning as part of the burn ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday nights.  Burnable art must be approved in advance by the Fire Safety team, either through the art grant process or via the art placement form.  Burnable art must follow the burnable art construction guidelines for materials and preparation.  Each artist is responsible for removal of all unburned materials and ash from their assigned burn site.  Unpredictable weather conditions or a local burn ban could result in the cancellation of any planned burns, and all burnable art builders shall have a plan to remove their art from the site without burning.

Pyrotechnics are prohibited in all burnable art pieces with the exception of theatrical gerbs (fountains) as specifically approved by the Fire Safety team.  Aerial pyrotechnic devices and salutes (reports) are never permitted.