Does anyone know anything about who is putting this on? I just found out about it myself, and a friend who has attempted to get in touch with the organizers has only gotten a canned response, leading her to think something is fishy about it (she also said that my name was somehow associated with their Myspace page, although I cannot check that since I'm not on Myspace).

And I'd have to agree: some nameless party, popping up out of nowhere, with no apparent history in the fire community does tend to make me raise an eyebrow.

Okay, I built a new gmail account and applied to the NFPA for entrance to the event.
They've finally responded and told me to read the MySpace site and follow the instructions.
www.myspace.com/fireperformers

On one of the side bars, I noticed some special rules for fire breathers. I downloaded the file and here it is

-=-=-=-=-=-=-
For Fire Breathers

Due to recent events where 3 fire breathers, in various locations, using carbon based fuels like lamp oil , coleman fuel, etc.,and subsequently contracting fatal esophageal , sinusoid, and cerebral cancers, the only fuels which may be used for fire breathing must be food grade fuels. Fire breathers MUST have their fuel inspected. The loss of these 3 performers is tragic and we must take action to stop this dangerous fuel use and promote the use of biologically safe fuels for our fire breathers. Mixtures of food grade powders, oils, and/or fuels, alcohols , or whatever mixtures you develop , must be utilized and inspected for safety of their ingredients. Sorry folks, start working on your mixtures. It is commonly said to avoid the use of alcohols due to their explosive volatility. It may be found that using a very low ratio of ethyl alcohol to some type of vegetable oil may subdue it's explosive tendancies. There are recipes floating around out there which indicate the use of methyl alcohols. DO NOT use methyl alcohols! They are toxic.NFPL is not responsible for any experimentation you may conduct nor the outcome of use of your fuel mixtures. You are responsible for researching these alternative fuels and techniques. This is one of the prime directives of NFPL, to identify and promote the safest and best performing nontoxic fuel for fire breathing. You are responsible for the fuel mixtures you choose to use and their risks. Below are some links to some alternatives and important information you should know.It is recommended that you read all MSDS sheets for all fuels.

There will be two fire breathing categories of competition.:1. Dry fuels 2. Liquid fuels

Each competition registration form for both dry and liquid fuels will have on them, the recipe for the mixture you are using. Help us in finding the safest fuels for our beloved fire breathers. Be careful!

www.homeofpoi.com/lessons_a...-11_52_194
Powdered Fuels:
www.instructables.com/id/Fire...as-Fuel/
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/dry_fuel.html

Liquid Fuels:
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/jugg....html
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/bio_....html -read the cautions!!!
-=-=-=-=-=-

If you follow the liquid fuel links they advocate the use of Kerosene. But I LOVE the fact that they are admonishing "carbon based" fuels. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I really wish these clowns weren't ending in disgrace in a few days. I think more of this nonsense would be a hoot.

Seriously though, proclaiming "safety" without doing the research is a dangerous thing. That's how accidents happen in the first place. I know their heart is in the right place, but giving people less than 2 weeks to locate and re-learn everything on a new fuel is NOT safe. Particularly when they don't offer a viable alternative.

Okay, so based on the quote below from their myspace blog, I'm thinking they didn't quite get the turn out they were hoping for. I haven't heard anything on the news, though, so it may be that they went off without an accident.

"And the winners are!!!

Twin Single Meteor Fire Poi:
First Place - Sir Dante from Austin Texas - incredible crowd pleaser, fast and skilled beyond comprehension
Second Place - HXC Spade from Buda Texas - precision artistic rave style and a "lady killer"

Fire Staff:
First Place - Benja the Ninja from Fort Worth Texas - artistic powerful original style
Second Place - Ed - from Austin Texas - Wu Shu Kung Fu style

Honorable Mentions:
Twin Single Meteor Fire Poi - Bumble Bee from Dallas Texas - great mix of poi, break dance and MMA
Female Twin Fire Batons - Baruzula - from The Enchanted Forest Texas - veteran artistic twin baton skills
Double Meteor Fire Poi, Fire Rope Dart, Twin Double Meteor, Triple Meteor, Twin Fire Swords, Levitating Fire Baton - Sparx from Austin Texas

What a stupendous time we had with a really fun group of people. Watch for us in the future!"

I remember this post on another site and someone had done research on the group. If I remember correctly the group has no backing nor standing in any national or local groups orcommunity.

I've written a follow-up based on a recent conversation here:
8stars.org/a/2009/07/22...rmers-league/