This information is only for organisers, not the public.
How To Build A Fire For Guy Fawkes
Julian's notes from doing it 2004.
- Julian was responsible for this in 2004; Roger has many
years experience, but as it was all new to Julian &
freshly learnt & typed the day after, hopefully this
covers most things.
Draft. In Roughly chronological order.
Responsibility is not to personally build the fire ! but to
ensure a good big fire is built - subtle difference ! It's more
important to co-ordinate everyone & get maximal people
working efficiently, without waiting for directions, for a big
stable bonfire, before it gets dark, than it is to just
concentrate on personally building the fire.
Select a reliable mechanically sound deputy for when/if you
are absent (fetching tools, in tent fixing gas, fireworks
etc).
Recruit & encourage as much work as possible from as
many as possible, Inspire by example, when you are seen running
about sawing & chopping, hot, then pausing to ask for help,
people stood around cold & bored are more inclined to help,
than if you'r just un-noticed in the distance fiddling with
kindling. If raining, invite people to keep warm(er) by helping
(more), they don't mind a spot of rain or drizzle nearly so
much if actively working.
Set aside a long pole for the guy, Allocate someone to tie
the guy on (in many places else will fall apart).
Diesel: Use at least 3 litres of diesel if damp/wet, not the
2 litres I used in 2004 Take plastic gloves to open & pour
diesel with: Diesel will get on your hands, there's nowhere to
wash it off, it will get off your hands on to your baked potato
or parkin etc later. R's's can is damn tight, top needs to be
pushed down Very hard before anti clockwise rotation to open.
Practice while still light).
Orient aperture toward prevailing wind ie Gaststaette.
Build the main support tripod out of 3 long straights with
knobbly bits so rope wont slip. Make the knots real loose so
wont break when pulling up. Tie the 3 on the ground before
pulling up with at least at least 4 strong adults (1 for each
pole + 1 on standby) I boss to co-ordinate that potentially
very heavy bit, not 2 in charge !
Keep the bow saw for experienced people, as blades on that
can break easily, & no spare blade, & the inexperienced
don't use it properly. Use it to saw up the remaining monster
pieces that will otherwise be too enormous for one man to throw
on the fire later when it's burning (you may not want them on
earlier, as too big & heavy & may destabilise the
fire)
Get the tripod erected as early as possible, it save some
language & conceptual problems explaining the outer circle
where wood is to be deposited. (Many helpers still don't
understand though, why the radius is so enormous, so explain
its a safety barrier for spectators, when burning, & a
working area for fire builders prior to that, & later extra
fuel to add to burning fire. It is not the outer radius of a
truly monstrous bonfire !
Optionally save 1 or 2 straight lengths to push stuff on
fire later with. (I didn't need this in '04 but some years I
think it's been useful ?).
Warn the firework team before they leave the field, that if
they are running late to pay in Gaststaette, to give the money
to someone else to pay & get back on time (*)
Get spare gloves back of helpers before they leave field as
it gets dark (or ask them to leave them at the tent.) (I forgot
to do this in '04).
Ensure not all branches above the ignition hole are
vertical. Put in some horizontals to propagate the flames
during ignition phase. Or Pack it tighter than I as a beginner
did in 2004.
Contact Firework team, Check
their progress, Arrange warning a few minutes before last
firework to start fire. (As teams often change, check eg rocket
launching sticks are not vertical, but point toward empty field
away from spectators, spare rockets pointing away etc. Ensure
there's a long line across top of field, etc. (not a dinky
little barrier round firework launch area).
(*) Expect that if its your first year, you won't have time
for the Gaststaette. Expect you may be called to secure gas
hoses in tent.
Get a bunch of children to screw up loads of newspaper -
They like to help.
Remove surplus tools to car.
Lay fire in hole (later the better if raining). Paper under,
fine brushwood, fine kindling, coarser kindling.
Dismiss kids before applying diesel.
Pre-dose some newspaper early, the smell then warns people
it's now an operational area, & parents keep their kids
away.
(*) Be prepared that a firework launcher may be late in
Gaststaette paying, & that you may be co-opted to firework team.
Toward end of fireworks sprinkle on the rest of the diesel
from as high as possible, to cover not just kindling, but
branches above.
Remove empty diesel can to far side of ring well away from
public.
Ignite.
Insert more cross sticks & brushwood if need be, to keep
initial fire going.
Place/ throw more big branches on fire, ( with one other
helper (not more in dark, not safe to quickly throw branches
unless 2 people are spaced well apart).
After fire is well going, & any unexpectedness from
Diesel is well past, declare it open season for adults (but not
children) to toss more on.
Remove diesel container to car.
At end, do not allow any firework remnant on fire until end
of evening when all have gone home (if even then - there's
always some that seem dead & are Not dead.
When removing last tools & part emptying tent, ensure no
one has borrowed tools eg axe from landowner (Dr Breitling),
& failed to return it, ( despite tool owner telling
borrower he must return it). We normally try to return lost
property to Munich, but we don't want Mariabrunn stuff being
brought back to Munich on the assumption it belongs to a GEA
member who has forgotten it, ( as in 2004.)
At home, don't dump firework clothes in bedroom: remnant
diesel fumes can build overnight & cause a headache.
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