[identity profile] sordidsky.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] davis_square
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.

Date: 2009-10-09 03:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] somervilleguy.livejournal.com
My guess would be not that well. But please report back and let us know.

Date: 2009-10-09 03:52 pm (UTC)
inahandbasket: animated gif of spider jerusalem being an angry avatar of justice (Bass me)
From: [personal profile] inahandbasket
You'd be much better off hitting up the boston Burners' lists...

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.

Date: 2009-10-09 04:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ceelove.livejournal.com
Our household had a backyard fire practice shut down by the police/fire a few years ago, who told us it was not legal to have open fire in our backyard. If you go ahead with this, they'll likely shut you down if they get wind of it. However, it was our neighbors who called them in, so if your neighbors are fine with the event, you might be able to proceed with it.

Date: 2009-10-09 04:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ludimagist.livejournal.com
I think the rules vary from town to town.

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.

Date: 2009-10-09 04:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gandalfgreyhame.livejournal.com
I don't spin myself but if you pull this off I would love to come and watch (and photograph).

Date: 2009-10-09 06:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tt02144.livejournal.com
My understanding of the law is that it is only legal to have a fire for cooking purposes. It is highly unlikely the Fire Department would OK this. Perhaps if you paid a fire detail, but I'm sure that would get expensive. And even if your neighbors are ok with this, if it's windy the smell of smoke will travel and the fire department will almost certainly get calls asking if there's a fire. If they should show up, they won't be happy. Not to mention the cost to the city of their response.

Date: 2009-10-09 06:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] somervilleguy.livejournal.com
Just a thought but one you might want to consider. If the city doesn’t give you approval or just prohibits this event out right and if something happens (house burns down, injuries) your homeowners insurance might not be willing to pay. I bring this up since our H O policy was cancelled due to us having a dog that the insurance company didn’t like, a Dalmatian.

Date: 2009-10-13 01:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] enochs-fable.livejournal.com
they didn't like a dalmation?! I could understand (even if I wouldn't agree) if it were a shepherd, doberman or pittie, but.. a dalmation?

Date: 2009-10-13 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] somervilleguy.livejournal.com
Yeah, even a Dalmatian.

Date: 2009-10-09 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] somervilleguy.livejournal.com
"These laws specifically do not allow any outside burning in the city of Somerville, except for cooking fires under specific guidelines."

I think that answers your original question.

Date: 2009-10-09 06:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com
is this for saturday, or just a coincidence?

Date: 2009-10-09 06:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com
see you then! :D

Date: 2009-10-09 06:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thetathx1138.livejournal.com
* 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 (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.

Date: 2009-10-09 08:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thetathx1138.livejournal.com
That and if the fuel ignites, it makes it easier to put out and harder for the fuel to spread.

Date: 2009-10-09 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] ron_newman
On the one hand, I'd love to see this. On the other, it makes me nervous, since Somerville is much more densely developed than Melrose.

Date: 2009-10-09 09:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com
I'm very glad I am not your neighbor. =) I'm sure this is cool but not in my backyard, please.

Date: 2009-10-10 01:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com
I just can't fathom why you don't have objections from the neighbors. We just moved in last week after signing our lives away forever mortgage and I think I would cheerfully destroy with my hands anyone who jeopardized this place. Like I said, I'm sure it looks cool. But this is maybe a bit much of an urban area to do it in.

Date: 2009-10-10 01:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com
Why are you assuming that what they're doing is jeopardizing the place in any way?

Date: 2009-10-10 01:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com
Because I don't play with fire. I don't see it as a toy.

Date: 2009-10-10 03:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] canongrrl.livejournal.com
to be honest, I have friends who spin - they are amazingly safe and I trust them. They wouldn't do it at my place, or in someplace as densely populated, with lots of wood structures as Somerville. (or at least I'd like to think that).

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.

Date: 2009-10-10 12:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prunesnprisms.livejournal.com
It's just really complicated. Our property abuts at least 3 other dwellings--it could certainly touch more if we weren't at a corner. Our place is a two-family, and here both tenants own, but that's not necessarily the case--they could be three families, with renters, and an absentee owner. If I were in your position I wouldn't want to bet that I'd managed to talk to everyone with a stake in the question. And if I'd been missed, and suddenly there were 50 people in a neighbor's side yard twirling fire around, and I had no idea if this was their first time, or what kind of precautions they were using? Calling the police would be a lot more expeditious.

Anyway. Hope you guys have fun and down burn the neighborhood down today.

Date: 2009-10-10 07:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com
Do you consider everything you don't play with or don't consider a toy to be that dangerous?

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)
From: [identity profile] icax0r.livejournal.com
Hey everyone,

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)
From: [identity profile] nomacmac.livejournal.com
During the summer, it's one of the classes in the Somerville Open Air Circus (www.openaircircus.org) (the circus is 90% kids, but the classes are open to everyone, and there are usually several adults participating)

No way something like that would take place

Date: 2009-10-09 11:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com
in my neighborhood. Sorry. You wanna play with fire? Go somewhere less densely populated.

Date: 2009-10-10 01:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magg1es.livejournal.com
The best bet is to get your neighbors, but honestly, you will probably get shut down within 10 minutes to an hour after you first light up.

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.

Date: 2009-10-10 01:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magg1es.livejournal.com
Wait...

Cookie?

HI!

Long time no see ;)

Date: 2009-10-10 03:38 pm (UTC)
smammy: (Default)
From: [personal profile] smammy
There's fire spinning at the Luau on Paulina every year without incident.

Date: 2009-10-13 05:16 am (UTC)
From: [personal profile] ron_newman
So ... how did it go?

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