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I am a recent convert to the Boston fire spinning community, and am looking to have some backyard performances in the near future. Does anyone know how the Somerville police and fire departments react to such things?
Performance details:
* All performances on paved back yard area
* No street visibility
* All adjacent neighbors are aware, and have consented for the proposed date
* Poi, staff, fans, and hoop expected
* Single experienced performer at a time - sober of course
* Experienced safety watching that performer, also sober
* Duvetyn or thick wool blanket for smothering fire
* Two fire extinguishers present (made for flammable liquid fires)
* Secure fueling area
** fuel in empty unused paint can, nested in a bigger bucket
** wall or at least plywood in front of the fueling area to prevent a spark hitting the fuel
** fueling area separate from fire area
I expect there to be 30-50 people present, so that might attract attention in itself.
Performance details:
* All performances on paved back yard area
* No street visibility
* All adjacent neighbors are aware, and have consented for the proposed date
* Poi, staff, fans, and hoop expected
* Single experienced performer at a time - sober of course
* Experienced safety watching that performer, also sober
* Duvetyn or thick wool blanket for smothering fire
* Two fire extinguishers present (made for flammable liquid fires)
* Secure fueling area
** fuel in empty unused paint can, nested in a bigger bucket
** wall or at least plywood in front of the fueling area to prevent a spark hitting the fuel
** fueling area separate from fire area
I expect there to be 30-50 people present, so that might attract attention in itself.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 03:52 pm (UTC)That said, I've been to plenty of back-yard burns in Somerville, Boston, and surrounding 'burbs, and we've never had the cops show up for anything but a noise complaint.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:07 pm (UTC)I used to spin with a group at Brandeis and all the campus police wanted was to be informed.
Wow, this makes me realize that I haven't spun in way too long.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 07:48 pm (UTC)So their open burning policy seems to be based on the EPA recommendations, which are because of environmental concerns, not safety.
http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/compliance/burning.htm
That's all I've found so far
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 08:13 pm (UTC)I think that answers your original question.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 06:56 pm (UTC)* No street visibility
* All adjacent neighbors are aware, and have consented for the proposed date
* Poi, staff, fans, and hoop expected
* Single experienced performer at a time - sober of course
* Experienced safety watching that performer, also sober
* Duvetyn or thick wool blanket for smothering fire
* Two fire extinguishers present (made for flammable liquid fires)
* Secure fueling area
** fuel in empty unused paint can, nested in a bigger bucket (My only change would be to fill the bigger bucket with water or sand about halfway up the side of the container. But that's if you're paranoid.
** wall or at least plywood in front of the fueling area to prevent a spark hitting the fuel
** fueling area separate from fire area
Well, you hit all the fire safety points. My only comment is in bold.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 09:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 03:44 am (UTC)If I saw you spinning near my house, I would call the police. All it takes is one mess up and there is could be damage. Since i'm guessing you are renting, this might make you feel bad, but if you are the owner - well - as said above, you tend to care a lot more.
and yes, I have become the "get off my lawn" person. Sigh.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 06:49 am (UTC)I'm a big believer in building neighborhoods instead of just living next to people.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 12:02 pm (UTC)Anyway. Hope you guys have fun and down burn the neighborhood down today.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 07:56 pm (UTC)I've been to plenty of backyard spins and pretty much all of them were hosted by the homeowner or in the yard of an owner-occupied multi.
Did you know that it's also illegal due to fire hazard to have a grill on a wood porch or deck, or anywhere within some distance (~10 feet? I can't recall the number now) of the house? And unlike spinning, there are unlikely to be people on safety duty whenever those are in use.
learning poi?
Date: 2009-10-09 10:46 pm (UTC)On a related note, I recently moved to Davis Square, and a few years ago I went to a poi class that was being held at BU. I really liked it, but I didn't keep up with it, and I thought it would be nice to start learning again :) Does anyone know if the BU class still happens, or if there are any opportunities for learning poi closer to Davis Square? Any pointers to lists/groups for poi?
Thanks much!
Re: learning poi?
Date: 2009-10-10 04:07 am (UTC)Re: learning poi?
Date: 2009-10-10 06:45 am (UTC)No way something like that would take place
Date: 2009-10-09 11:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:34 am (UTC)Regardless of the safety points, it's a liability if the fire performers aren't insured. The fire department will show up and treat your spinning equipment like it's a bomb.
I've spun one place that hasn't gotten shut down (yet) and that's in JP.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 01:38 am (UTC)Cookie?
HI!
Long time no see ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 06:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 05:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 05:29 am (UTC)On the day of the party I visited all of the neighbors who were home again, and left them my phone number in case the noise ended up being too much, or if they had any safety concerns. Also invited them to come over to watch the performances, but none took me up on that.
The noise level was ok with the neighbors that I have spoken to so far. I'm going to have a barbecue soon and invite them over, to work on the neighborhood feeling.
As for the party itself - there were a decent number of fire performances, and no safety issues or injuries occurred during any of them. People went home happy around 3am after having hot mulled cider, a few pies, and some beautiful fire performances.
Couldn't ask for better really