Fire eating

For the United States group of proslavery extremists in the mid-19th century, see Fire-Eaters. For the 1921 film, see The Fire Eater. For the 1998 film, see Fire-Eater (film).

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

Brian Brushwood performing fire eating tricks.

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

A set of simple cast iron fire eating torches

Video of fire eating.

Fire eating is the act of putting a flaming object into the mouth and extinguishing it. A fire eater can be an entertainer, a street performer, part of a sideshow or a circus act but has also been part of spiritual tradition in India.

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 was 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.

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. It is instead the cutting off of the oxygen from the flame which extinguishes it. 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, and that heat rises in air. Fire eating and fire breathing (and all variants) is a skill which should be passed on from a skilled master to an appropriate student and almost all teachings include instructions on first aid, fire safety, chemistry and other appropriate skills. Accidental ingestion of fuel or improper technique can lead to a serious condition known as fire eater's pneumonia.

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 in 1751 was awarded 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 (using multiple rods) is 99 and was achieved by Bret Pasek (U.S.A.) at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, on 7 September 2014.^[3]

The longest duration fire torch teething is 3 minutes 38.39 second and was achieved by Alexander Spitfire on August 30th, 2015.

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
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
Jellyfish extinguish – pull the torch down out of the flame to extinguish it

Others

Teething – hold a lit torch by the wick in your teeth
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

References

↑ Miracle Mongers and their Methods, Houdini: particularly chapters II, V, VI . Retrieved on 2008-06-12
↑ "Hot Meals", The Every-day Book and Table Book; or, Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days, in Past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Months, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac, Including Accounts of the Weather, Rules for Health and Conduct, Remarkable and Important Anecdotes, Facts, and Notices, in Chronology, Antiquities, Topography, Biography, Natural History, Art, Science, and General Literature; Derived from the Most Authentic Sources, and Valuable Original Communication, with Poetical Elucidations, for Daily Use and Diversion. Vol III., ed. William Hone, (London: 1838) p 314-16. Retrieved on 2008-06-12
↑ "Fire eating – most torches extinguished in one minute". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2015-03-03.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fire eater.

Penn Jillette Reveals the Secrets of Fire-Eating, Smithsonian Magazine, December 2012

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