• infobot@lakesoffire.org

PROHIBITED MATERIALS

PROHIBITED MATERIALS – IE. DON’T BURN IT!

Below is a list of materials that we have to prohibit from all fires at LoF, as well as safety guidelines that we must require of you in order to prevent damage and/or disasters at the event.

  • No Fireworks
  • No synthetic fabrics (synthetics can throw off flakes of burning, melting ash) only 100% cotton/natural fabrics. Only a minimal amount of natural fabrics may be used in any piece- consult F.A.S.T before burning to discuss.
  • No plastics/PVC
  • No OSB
  • No glue-based wood materials such as micro density fiberboard MDF, melamine
  • No chipboard/particleboard. Tempered Hardboard is acceptable as it has a low environmental impact. Most hardboard does not use glues or resins to bind the fibers. Hardboard is almost entirely made of wood.
  • Nothing classified as a hazardous material by the postal service (usps.com/ship/can-you-ship-it.htm).
  • No oxidizers.
  • No flame retardants.
  • No fireworks of any kind.
  • No electrical components.
  • No treated color paper or chemicals of any kind to create color when burning as that is toxic. Construction paper is safe to use.
  • No magazines/newspapers/cardboard/paperboard/poster board/phonebooks/etc. Contact F.A.S.T. if you need an exception to this rule, such as heavy mailing tubes.
  • No pressure-treated wood. (Beware the green tint- it may contain arsenic).
  • No pressure vessels (even empty ones); including spray paint cans, propane canisters, etc.
  • No treated driftwood Natural wood, sticks, etc. are OK.
  • No gasoline.
  • No white gas (other than for fire dancing use).
  • No lighter fluid.
  • No LNG (liquefied natural gas).
  • No paint with a heavy metal pigment (red/yellow/black lead, cadmium, chrome etc). All paint should be thin layers of color wash. ie..watered down paint in multiple layers.
  • No more than a minimal amount of duct tape. It should only be used as a fastener. Paper based tape would be preferred, example would be gaffers. Use both in small quantities, as it should be avoided as a structural element.

**If you have questions, contact F.A.S.T. BEFORE you burn**

SAFETY & CLEAN UP/LNT GUIDELINES

  1. Stuff burning on the effigy burn pad needs to fit inside the space F.A.S.T. has created. Please consult for size.
  2. If you aren’t on the effigy burn pad, you need to keep your piece contained to a 10x10x10 space or a 5x5x5 space depending on where F.A.S.T. assigns you at LoF.
  3. No piece can be larger than 10 feet tall EVER. We do not have the ability to control a fire piece larger than that.
  4. Your piece needs to be in place and complete an hour prior to your scheduled burn time. Your piece gets fueled 30 minutes prior to your scheduled burn time. After your piece gets fueled, you need to have someone physically present to keep an eye on it (keep an eye out for smokers, folks spinning poi, etc). Pre-soaking logs with fuel can improve the lighting of your piece; if you’re not burning on a stack, consider pre-soaking a few.
  5. Please use ferrous hardware (screws, nails, etc) that can be picked up with a magnetic sweeper. If you have an artistic need to use small, sharp, non-ferrous pieces (brass tacks or whatever), please alert F.A.S.T. and list clean up methods in your LNT plan.
  6. As the artist, please verify and have a F.A.S.T. Team member clear that your piece has been cleaned up prior to noon the day after your burn . ( F.A.S.T. is not responsible for your piece being cleaned up, you are.)
  7. As a general rule of thumb, accelerants that are thicker than water (kero, diesel, lamp oil, tiki fuel, bio-diesel (this probably won’t work well, but we won’t object to you using it), paraffin, etc) is allowed, and most of the ones thinner than water (gasoline, white gas, Coleman fuel, LNG, etc) are not. If you’re unsure, ask F.A.S.T.. Any kind of pressurized canister is not allowed. Remember, the goal is to burn wood, not accelerants, and with proper construction, you don’t need much accelerant. The best way to light your piece is how you start a campfire: with kindling and paper. No accelerant liquids can touch the ground at LoF.
  8. No elevated observation platforms associated with burning art pieces unless it has installed railings.
  9. Obey MI law on transporting firewood (including brush and driftwood) across state lines, due to concerns about transporting pests like the emerald ash borer (emeraldashborer.info/firewood.cfm).

If you have questions, contact F.A.S.T. BEFORE you burn: FAST@LAKESOFFIRE.ORG

Thank you,

F.A.S.T.