Fire eating

A fire eater performing a vapor pull at Transformus, 2013.

A fire eating trick performed at a bar in New York City

A set of simple cast iron fire eating torches

A fire eater is an entertainer, often a street artist or part of a sideshow. The performer places flaming objects into their mouth and extinguishes them by cutting off oxygen. They also practice controlling and transferring the flame. Fire eating torches are generally metal with wrapped kevlar wicks or cotton, secured with kevlar thread.

History and hazards

Fire eating was a common part of Hindu, Sadhu, and Fakir performances to show spiritual attainment. It became a part of the standard sideshow acts in the late 1880s and is often seen as one of the entry-level skills for sideshow performers, although skilled fire performers, such as those who can utilize the difficult and dangerous vapor transfers and produce large breaths of fire are regarded as equals in the circus community for their skill and devotion to their art. Such performers include record holder Preacher Muad'dib, Lucifre, Heavy Metal Pete,Snake Fervor, Murrigan Mystic Tom Black and Chris Riley all of whom are known as exceptionally skilled performers within the circus and sideshow industry.

Other than sound fire safety precautions and some practical advice regarding the laws of physics (i.e. "hot air rises"), there are few secrets to eating fire. Torches do not burn with "cold flames" nor is there any special substance in the performer's mouth other than saliva. According to Daniel Mannix's 1951 sideshow memoir Step right up!, the real "secret" to fire eating is enduring pain; he mentions that tolerating constant blisters on your tongue, lips and throat is also necessary. Many other fire eaters dismiss this, claiming that a skilled fire eater should not burn themselves. The most common method of safely performing fire eating acts relies on the fact that it takes time to transfer heat. Fire eating and fire breathing (and all variants) is a skill usually passed on for a skilled master to an appropriate student and almost all teachings include instructions on first aid, fire safety, chemistry and other appropriate skills.

Famous fire eaters

A famous fire eater from the 18th century was Robert Powell who allegedly not only swallowed fire but also red-hot coals, melted sealing wax and even brimstone. He performed, often in front of British and other European royalty and nobility, for nearly sixty years and was awarded in 1751 a purse of gold and a large silver medal.^[1]

Although not the earliest, the first to attract the attention of the upper classes was an Englishman named Richardson, who first performed in France in 1667. His methods were subsequently made public by his servant.^[2]

Guinness World Records

The most torches extinguished in one minute with the mouth by using only two torches is 83 and was achieved by Preacher Muad'dib on Nov 18 2010 at Potter's Field, UK. ^{[3] [4]}

The most torches extinguished in 30 seconds with the mouth by using only two torches is 53 and was achieved by Preacher Muad'dib on stage at the "Bizarre Ball" in London, UK on 27th May 2011. This has earned him the nickname "The fastest fire-eater on earth".

The most torches extinguished in one minute with the mouth (using multiple rods) is 89 and was achieved by Pascal Ackermann (Switzerland) on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Rome, Italy, on 1 April 2010.^[5] The most torches extinguished in 30 seconds with the mouth (using multiple Rods) is 39 and was achieved by Hubertus Wawra alias Master of Hellfire, Germany.^[6]

World records

New York City-based fire performer Flambeaux (Chris Reilly) holds the world record for keeping a lit torch in his mouth for 55.53 seconds.^{[citation needed]}

Fire-eating tricks

While trick categories (vapor, transfers, extinguishes, etc.) are recognized by most, it is important to note that specific trick names may vary greatly depending on the region of the world in which the student learned.

Vapor tricks

Vapor tricks utilize the fuel vapors held in the mouth during or before an extinguish.

• Cigarette light – light a cigarette with a Human Candle
• Human candle – slowly feed a candle sized flame with vapors you hold
• Vapor transfer – ignite one torch with the vapor from another
• Moonshot – shoot vapors straight up
• Fiery Kiss - Small amounts of fuel on the palm of the hand is ignited by a vapor pull, creating the effect of the performer blowing a kiss of fire.

Transfers

Transfers are methods of moving a flame from one area to another, by using the body, or another surface or medium.

• Body transfers – transfer the flame from one torch to the other with parts of your body, e.g. arm, leg, chest, buttocks, toes etc.
• Finger transfer – transfer the flame from one torch to the other with your fingers (most common form of transfer)
• Fire floor transfer – transfer the flame from one torch to the other on the floor
• Tongue transfer – transfer the flame from one torch to the other with your tongue

Extinguishes

Extinguishes are methods of extinguishing torches, and are the traditional hallmark of fire eating.

• The Blow Out – Utilizing breath control to extinguish
• The Extinguisher – Utilizing a class:B fire extinguisher to extinguish aforementioned flame(this trick is highly dangerous and only done by seasoned fire performers)
• Multiple fire eat – basic fire eat with several torches at once
• Flaming cotton ball extinguish – put out a cotton ball as you would a torch
• Hand snuff – put the torch out by snuffing it with your hand
• Whip extinguish – pull the torch down out of the flame to extinguish it

Others

• Teething – hold a lit torch by the wick in your teeth (note: potentially dangerous)
• Immolation – passing any part of the body through the flame
• Retention – Holding a lit fire torch by your hand with the lit wick within your mouth for an extended period of time
• Straight snuff – Fire eating whilst keeping your head level
• Tongue rest – Letting the lit wick of a fire torch rest on the tongue
• Shotgun – lighting a trail of fuel on the body to light an unlit fire torch.
• Slow burn – Very slowly dragging a lit fire torch on the skin

See also

• Fire breathing
• Fire dancing

References

Further reading

• Brushwood, Brian (2002). Professional's Guide to Fire Eating. Bizarre Magic, Inc. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-9713646-0-8. OCLC 224122749. 
• Mannix, Daniel P. (1951). Step right up!. New York: Harper. p. 270. OCLC 529468. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fire eater.

• North American Fire Arts Association
• Penn Jillette Reveals the Secrets of Fire-Eating, Smithsonian Magazine, December 2012