Fire - SideBurn

Fire is warm and fun–this is called a Burn, after all.

Remember: Pyrotechnics, explosives, firearms, and fireworks are absolutely prohibited.

Fire Art Safety Team (FAST)

FAST is responsible for ensuring that fire is used safely at the event. On-duty FAST members are easily identifiable by their red shirts and radios. If you’re bringing a project that includes open flames or flame effects, or is intended to be burned, please contact FAST at fast@sideburn.ca before the event and visit our website for more information on our fire policies.

To avoid any unfortunate incidents FAST would like you to be aware of a few points.

General Fire

Don’t light fires directly on the ground. Raise it off the ground on a non-flammable platform, metal sheet on bricks, burn barrel on legs or bricks, in a portable fire pit, or similar.
Burn barrels must have a metal mesh top with openings 0.5cm or smaller.
Don’t forage for firewood or cut down trees.
No fires in the forest.
Fires must be attended at all times. Your fire will be put out if it’s found unattended. This includes propane fire pits and flame effects.
You should have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby just in case.
A radius of 10 feet around the fire must be clear of brush, dry grass, and anything else flammable (this means not walking away after you’ve left your wet shoes leaning against a burn barrel).

Fire Art

Flame effects must comply with NFPA 160 and must be inspected by FAST.
If you’re bringing a flame effect please prepare a safety plan and contact FAST before the event at fast@sideburn.ca.
When you arrive at the event with a flame effect please check in with FAST for a quick inspection. You can find FAST–or someone that can radio FAST if they’re elsewhere–at the HUB.
If you intend to burn an art piece, you are responsible for a burn plan and staffing a perimeter. Please contact FAST as soon as possible at fast@sideburn.ca if you intend to do this. During the event, you can find FAST–or someone who can contact them–at the HUB of Center Camp.
Some materials should not be burned in large amounts and can not be used in the construction of your project, including:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Paper maché
- Natural or synthetic fabric
- 1/8″ and 1/4″ plywood
- Plywood with a veneer layer
- Plastic
- Wool and leather

Fire Performance

Performances are only permitted during the Effigy conclave (sign up here before the event), or in designated areas. These designated areas include three plazas with Fire Safety Stations (check the map) and at approved camps during their set hours. Performers are responsible for the safety of themselves and those around them, and must have a safety person with a wet or fire-retardant blanket ready.

Remember: SideBurn is a Leave No Trace (LNT) event–do not spill, spin out, or burn fuel on the ground. If you have a spill, check with FAST to make sure your clean up/remediation is done properly.

Fire Pits and Burn Barrels

Theme Camps and Open Campers may have a fire pit or burn barrel without FAST inspection for the purpose of burning clean dry wood provided the conditions below are met, and/or providing no other City-wide or provincial burn bans are in effect:

The ground must be cleared and free of vegetation in a 3m (10 feet) radius.
The fire must be supervised at all times by a competent adult human.
All fires must be raised off the ground on a non-flammable platform, metal sheet on bricks, in a portable fire pit, or in a burn barrel on legs or bricks.
A bucket of water must be available in the vicinity of all fires. Any unattended fires will be extinguished by FAST.
Clean dry wood is the only material that may be burned. Painted or treated wood, brush, leaves, grass clippings, garbage, and other materials may not be burned.

Fire Pits

The fire area is no larger than 1m (3 feet) in diameter.
The fire area is contained within a pit designed for said use, not on the ground or in the forest.
Fire pits must be at least 3m (10 feet) away from the treeline.

Burn Barrels

Barrels must be constructed of metal and be in good condition.
A heavy duty screen with mesh not greater than 0.5cm should be placed on top of the barrel.
Draft holes at the bottom of the barrel must not exceed 2.5cm in diameter.
Barrels must be at least 5m (16.5 feet) away from the treeline.

FAST (Fire Art Safety Team) is here to make sure that everybody has a safe Burn. If you have any questions about fire policies or concerns both before and during the event, email fast@sideburn.ca.