IT’S LESS THAN a week until the Fire Entertainer of the Year show at Dante’s nightclub, and host Jaime Leona couldn’t feel less prepared. But it’s not ticket sales or finding a lineup of fire-slinging dancers that has her on edge. On Sunday, May 27, the night of the show, a newly modified fire code takes effect—and it could potentially shut down the annual bash, along with other indoor fire dancing acts all across the city.
To account for the surging popularity of the art form, Portland’s fire bureau recently decided to adjust its 11-year-old fire code by requiring a minimum distance of 25 feet between performer and audience, and fire sprinklers installed in the venue’s ceiling. The changes, promoters say, essentially mean that all current entertainment venues, aside from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, will fall outside the guidelines. What the city sees as a safety precaution, dancers and venue owners see as the demise of their business.
“Following the stage requirements would mean our customers would have to stand outside. It’s impossible,” says Shon Boulden, co-owner of both Dante’s and Devils Point strip club. Boulden says fire dancing has been a staple at Devils Point for over 10 years, and that it’s one of the main attractions drawing downtown customers to his Southeast business. He says the city likely changed the code because of the growing contingent of amateur fire dancers in the area.
“Our girls are experienced and take utmost precautions in everything they do,” he says. “We’ve never had any sort of accident.”
And he is not alone in his frustrations. Boulden, along with other venue owners and performers, has taken up arms against what he calls “extreme” regulations, leading to a few meetings with the fire marshal’s office. The group’s solution? Require all fire dancers to pass a permit test to perform indoors in hopes to weed out anyone who’s not safe.
Assistant Fire Marshal Doug Jones says the talks have been amiable.
“Believe it or not, we’re relatively easy to get along with,” says Jones. “We’re here to help, not to put people out of business.”
He says that the office has been working with Dante’s, Devils Point, and other venues to modify their space. But some clubs, he says, including Devils Point, are in a “hard place.” And while he’s encouraged by the professional-seeming idea of a permit, Jones says the fire bureau is in no position to manage the process. For now, he says, the code will remain in place.
The host of the event at Dante’s—Leona, a longtime Portland fire performer who dances as “Miss Steak”—isn’t ready to settle. “I’ve followed the rules the entire time I’ve been in the business,” says Leona, who has been dancing at Devils Point for years. “I personally think the fire chief doesn’t understand the industry enough to make the call. Our jobs are on the line—it’s time to make a compromise.”
Thank you for writing an article about this.. Many have no say or knowledge that this is happening, and are helpless to stop it. It really saddens me that so many have practiced, and worked so hard to be phenominal fire performers, to have to once again adjust to new fire codes. Shon has already done major construction to meet previous safety codes, and many rely on the art form as their “bread and butter”. If it isn’t broke, don’t break it more.. 🙁 Performers have “fire safety” for a reason. I wish the best to all performers, and really hope that this issue can meet a compromise that won’t destroy what has taken years to build.
Thank you for this post. I am not a fire dancer, but I have worked alongside many fire dancers for seven years at Devils Point & Dante’s. I’ve never seen an incidence where safety came into question. These entertainers are professionals, and they take great pride in knowing how to perform safely. I hope this issue is resolved soon so that Portland can enjoy fire performances for years to come!
What was the motivation for changing the code? Had there been multiple accidents from fire performances in the past year? Or is this just the usual city bureaucracy?
I have been coming and watching, supporting and have become very good friends several of the fire dancers here in the Portland area. They are amazing to come watch and the people watching them love them. It is a shame that the fire codes are trying to take away the core of what Portland is known for. Portland has always been an open city to performers of all kinds and I think that is why so many people travel here to see. I was at Leona’s last show at Dante’s and there were several people there that my husband and I have spoke to there that travelled from all over the place to come here to see the show. This is these performers lively hood and for many of them how they make their income. I think that is things have been fine then why change it???? Please do not force these amazing performers to leave and go else where because their job has been torn away from them. I would miss all of my amazing friends that I have made and Portland would justy become boring if you take away the heart of what we are known for.
To answer your question Browse – the usual city bureaucracy. (Commisioner) Randy Leonard and his “hit squad” might even be behind this. He IS the fire comminioner.
I have friends who do fire performance and fire saftey. They are ALL very careful and pro about it! There are ways to weed out people who do stupid or dangerous thngs. Changing the fire code won’t help.
CAN WE JUST OUTLAW FIREDANCERS ALL TOGETHER? THEY’RE JUST EMBARRASSING THEMSELVES.
Twenty-five feet is extreme. o.O
Well this is certainly Baz Lurhman’s next film. Let’s have the top fire dancer be named Passion and I’d like to see some sexual advances from the fire marshal, please.
“I can look the other way, Passion, if what I’m looking towards is your naked, fire-silhouetted bod.”
Then they do that dance where they arch their backs a lot and whip their hair. With sparklers. And super fast.
Welcome to Portland where if it’s enjoyable, we will shut it down.
Are people really rallying against this? Literally playing with fire in a crowded room with no sprinklers is a TERRIBLE idea. What is wrong with people???
Are people really rallying against this? Literally playing with fire in a crowded room with no sprinklers is a TERRIBLE idea. A problem hasn’t happened yet? Well, that’s good, but it’s still a fucking small-ass space with no water. What is wrong with people???
Oh, for pete’s sake, this is obviously a fire hazard. Compromise, go right ahead, but don’t be a bunch of idiots just to get what you want.
Thank you, @Graham. Even my fire dancing friends annoy the crap out of me.
“Art is anything you can get away with.” -Andy Warhol
Just because you don’t understand it, or it annoys you, or you think it’s stupid doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant art. Certain people are drawn to fire. People make a living off of their fire performances. It is a Portland staple in clubs. Out of the hundreds of fire acts I have seen, I have never felt unsafe or that the situation was out of control. What, is the fire just going to leap out of someone’s hands/mouth and land on the surface that is probably not wood and certainly won’t just burst into flames causing a fire so fast that nobody can put it out? These are tiny, controlled flames. Even if it did land somewhere it wasn’t supposed to, it would be extinguished before there was enough smoke to turn on a sprinkler system. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE NEARBY, ALERT WITH WATER. Fans are turned off and staff and security are on their toes.
People are not just “playing with fire”….they have practiced for years and auditioned to perform on a stage. They are probably more comfortable around an open flame than a fire fighter, and they certainly know how to control it.
This law is going to mess with incomes. A solution must be reached soon.