City Keeps the Fire Burning

Tom Giffey |

Photo: Anthony David
Photo: Anthony David

A collaboration between a group of fire spinners and the Eau Claire Fire Department has ensured that fancy flying flame performances will be safe and legal in the city.

The High Octane Fire Spinners, a loosely affiliated group of about 15 people, has been wowing crowds in Eau Claire for the past few years, often after Volume One-sponsored Sounds Like Summer concerts in Phoenix Park (although the group has no formal affiliation with the concerts or this magazine). If you haven’t seen them, imagine mystical ninjas dancing with twirling orbs of flame.

“It did become quite big, and there was no one really directly in charge of what was going on,” explains Kerri Kiernan, a member of the group.

Eventually, these unregulated fire performances caused some city leaders to express concern because, hey, they were unregulated fire performances. First, someone complained about the group’s use of music; then the city Parks and Recreation Department asked them to either get a special event permit or stop performing at Phoenix Park. Furthermore, city official realized there were no rules on the books governing fire performances.

After several months of consideration, on Jan. 22 the City Council voted 8-2 to approve an ordinance that basically requires fire performers – defined as those engaged in “fire breathing, fire juggling, fire spinner, fire dancing and any other artistic display or performance involving an open flame” – to get a free permit to do so from the Fire Department. The ordinance gives the Fire Department leeway to set rules governing such performances – such as the location of the performers, the crowd, and where the fuel is stored. In addition, the performers will provide copies of their IDs to the fire department. The council also passed a second ordinance requiring those using open flames in city parks (except for grilling) to also get permission from the director of parks and recreation.

Kiernan praised city officials, particularly Fire Chief Lyle Koerner, for their willingness to work with the group to establish rules that protect the public’s safety while still allowing fiery performances by those who know what they are doing.

“We don’t want to see other people doing stupid things or not using the right equipment,” she said.