Backyard Fire Performances in the Teele area

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[somervilleguy.livejournal.com]

My guess would be not that well. But please report back and let us know.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[gandalfgreyhame.livejournal.com]

I don't spin myself but if you pull this off I would love to come and watch (and photograph).

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

Since this gathering will likely have 30-50 people already I'm going to keep it to the existing list, but if the police don't shut us down I'll gladly invite you to the next one :)

[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.

[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.

[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?

[somervilleguy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, even a Dalmatian.

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

http://faqs.somervillema.intelligovsoftware.com/fdq5.aspx

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

[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.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

is this for saturday, or just a coincidence?

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

Yep, Saturday

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

see you then! :D

[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.

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

To prevent the fuel + outer bucket from tipping over - good feedback, forgot that one.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

That and if the fuel ignites, it makes it easier to put out and harder for the fuel to spread.

[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.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad I am not your neighbor. =) I'm sure this is cool but not in my backyard, please.

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

If you were my neighbor I would have talked to you, and agreed to not engage in such activities if you objected ;-)

[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.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Why are you assuming that what they're doing is jeopardizing the place in any way?

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Because I don't play with fire. I don't see it as a toy.

[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.

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

An alternative to calling the police would be to actually talk to your neighbor about your concerns. If one of my neighbors did that, then I would not have any fire spinning at my place.

I'm a big believer in building neighborhoods instead of just living next to people.

[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.

[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?

[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?

[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)

Re: learning poi?

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

The best place to learn would be Boston Spinjam, which was formerly meeting at BU. It is currently outside MIT Building 10 every Monday from 6 til 9, and at Mass Art from 1 til 4 on Sunday. Look for "Boston Spinjam" on facebook for more details.

No way something like that would take place

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

in my neighborhood. Sorry. You wanna play with fire? Go somewhere less densely populated.

[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.

[magg1es.livejournal.com]

Wait...

Cookie?

HI!

Long time no see ;)

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

Indeed - hours even!

[smammy]

There's fire spinning at the Luau on Paulina every year without incident.

[ron_newman]

So ... how did it go?

[sordidsky.livejournal.com]

The party worked out perfectly.

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