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Fire Breathing
By Dennis Ryan of Academy of Professional Bartending
FiRe BrEaThInG!
I would like to start off by saying fire breathing is dangerous. The following simply explains the art of fire breathing and some of the experiences I have had with it. I am a professional FLAIR Bartender (remember the movies Cocktails with Tom Cruise or Coyote Ugly?) and use pyrotechnics in many of my shows. I have been doing this for years and I do not endorse nor suggest that anyone try fire breathing without proper training and an experienced fire breather present. I do not take responsibility for anyone injured in attempting fire breathing. This is simply an informative article. If you attempt fire breathing you are doing so at your own risk. Experimenting on your own could prove to be fatal. Simply put, fire breathing is the art of expelling a fine mist of combustible mixture over an open flame and creating a fireball or a stream of fire. The artists presentation, as well as using the proper technique, creates the illusion of danger to help captivate and amaze their audience. Keep in mind, as easy as the performer may make it seem, fire breathing is dangerous. Performers who breathe fire professionally take extraordinary precautions not only to keep their audiences safe but themselves as well! Since the process involves fire (which is always unpredictable), and sometimes toxic fuel, accidents can be fatal. Being able to control the consistency of the spray as well as the fuel's direction is a technique that takes a lot of time. Fire breathers usually practice extensively with water before ever attempting a fuel. I would practice in the shower taking in the water and practicing my mist technique. I was the cleanest and most wrinkled fire breather after coming out of the shower. If the sprayed mist is not fine enough, the fuel catches fire and falls burning away. Placement or direction of the fuel is equally important. Improper angles can be devastating. For example if the angle is too low, the flame could rise up on you causing self ignition. If the angle is too high it can cause un-ignited fuel to fall back into your face. The angle is extremely important and is generally between a 60 - 80 degree mark.
The direction and speed of the wind is vitally important for the obvious reasons. Always watch the flame; it’s a sure sign on how the weather is acting. Wind shift is when the wind blows your fire breath back into your face. You should ONLY breathe downwind. Breathing fire in high wind, or unpredictable wind is not advisable. Your surroundings are another factor. There could be danger to bystanders that are too close. Hair and clothing may ignite including the fire breathers! There may curtains hanging on stage or windows. Or possibly trees with low hanging branches or even power lines that may be present. Fire breathers are always aware of the distance between them and the audience. Basically, anything and everything that surrounds them. Having a fire extinguisher and wet fire blanket on hand is highly recommended. There can be certain health risks involved when it comes to fire breathing. When fire breathing is performed using the wrong fuel or technique risks such as burns, dental problems, ulcers,headaches, vomiting, poisoning and even death are possible. Any fuel whose ignition point is high enough that it does not ignite easily and has no combustible fumes would be considered a high flash point fuel. This is the most important part of fire breathing. To use of any type of fuel with combustible fumes means that the chances of a blow-back occurring is more likely. When it comes to fire breathing, the greatest risk of self-ignition comes from using low flash point fuels. Types of fuels that are used vary for each performer. General agreeance suggests the “safest” fuel used for fire breathing is liquid paraffin wax/mineral oil. Improper technique using the proper fuel can still risk mist inhalation, which may cause symptoms such as headache, sinus infection, and lung disorder. Fuels that are considered especially dangerous and not recommended are: Ethanol – drinking alcohol can be absorbed into the blood stream without drinking causing intoxication. Methanol - used for colored flame recipes can cause blindness or neurological disorders. Naphtha, Butane and Propane – are low flash point fuels and can create a condensed vapor build-up in the oral cavity leading to internal combustion, damaging the mouth or lungs. Naphtha also is quite carcinogenic; using it on a constant basis can lead to mouth cancer. Common fuels like gasoline and kerosene often contain carcinogens. Kerosene is easy to obtain, but it is the most carcinogenic due to it being so unrefined. The proper torch plays just as much importance as does the fuel. When beginning to practice fire breathing use a smaller head on your torch giving you more control over the size of your fire. The bigger head, the bigger the fire surface which would require a larger breath. Your torch consists of a wire coat hanger that has been straightened out and should be 8 - 12 inches in length. This ensures the fire will be a safe distance from your face and hand. Place a wad of 100% cotton cheesecloth to the end where you want the head to be using Elmer’s glue. Allow it to dry completely. Leather lacing or cloth wrapped around the base will jazz up its appearance and you won’t have to worry about it burning your hand.
I once competed in a Flair Contest in New Jersey. The owner, who by the way is a great guy, was very nervous about the fact I wanted to blow fire in his bar. Mind you the place was old er than dirt and entirely wood. You could see his concerns and fears.
I down played the fire breathing part telling him if he blinks he’ll miss it, tiny little flame fast and sweet. He finely agreed. I want to add that the owner stood all of 5’7” tall and weighed over 300lbs. So, the competition is under way everyone having a great time. My time to perform and I had the tins spinning, garnish flipping and bottles tossing! Now comes time for the fire. I take a mouthful of fuel, dip my index finger into the fuel and ignite my finger (do not try that) and sprayed the mist of fuel over it. Because I knew the owner was nervous and I wanted to get it over with quickly, I blew that mist with such force I shot a good 12 foot fire stream across the stage. The BEST I had every done! I look out into the audience and see this poor owner with is hand over his heart. I was like OMG and approached him after the event. If looks could kill and he was like “TINY LITTLE FLAME? YOU LIT UP THE BLOCK”.. lol!
Cheers,
Mix Master D
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Wow. And you guys make it look so easy. Very impressive!
Interesting read. I think I will leave it those who know what they're doing.
Thank you for sharing this information on fire breathing, Dennis.
A really great first intel, congrats!!
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes.
Frederick
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This intel was contributed by mIxmAsTeR
mIxmAsTeR
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May, 2012
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