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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
I have been fire breathing for over 20 years. I am very careful. A bit over two weeks ago I became a human torch during a performance at a car shoe. Second degree burns over half my face and over the right side of my head. Second degree burns on my right arm, hand and fingers. Third degree on one finger - down to the bone. Second degree burn spots on my left fingers & chest.
You cannot imagine the pain when they clean burn wounds. They say it is far worse than giving birth. Glad I can't compare them, but at the time I just wanted them to cut my hand off. Shaving a burn is a real treat. I lost some big shows that paid a lot more than fire eating. I gained some huge medical bills - far more than I ever made eating fire. I received quite a few calls from people I didn't know - all eager to hear how bad it was. A news station was salivating to interview me and asked my wife some rather morbid and inappropriate questions. The lucky thing is my wife and child did not see it. No more fire Eating, bed- of- nails, block head or glass walking for me. Glad to be alive. |
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erikkloeker Loyal user Cincinnati, Ohio 203 Posts |
What are the details of the accident? What kind of fuel were you using? How could it have been prevented?
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
In addition to Erik's questions, what kind of clothing were you wearing?
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
From what I understand, I can't discuss fuel. Needless to say I was very careful.
I was wearing a fire retardant shirt, but I had the sleeves rolled up for when I would light my arms on fire. The spots on my chest were because I it was a hot day and I had two buttons undone. As for what happened, a gust of wind came out of nowhere, at the worst time, and blew the fluid back in my face. I couldn't see through the flames. It was only seconds, but it was enough. I had a blanket tossed over me. I know some people will want to blame me for what happened, but I have be doing this a long time, I was no newbie. I do not think fire Eating should stop, just that practitioners need to take a close look at what can happen to anyone - and so every one takes all precautions. For me, stunts like this just are no longer worth it. |
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erikkloeker Loyal user Cincinnati, Ohio 203 Posts |
I'm unaware of any "ban" barring the discussion of fuel, but if you feel uncomfortable discussing it you can pm me.
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erikkloeker Loyal user Cincinnati, Ohio 203 Posts |
I can tell you the most commonly used fuel for fire-breathing will not burn without a wick. I.E. a shirt, hair in some cases, etc...
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Most people who tell me they never had an accident, I find unbelievable. The questions are not "if", but "when" and "how bad"?
I hope you heal fast. Aloe and vitamin E oil are your friends, once you're taking care of it on your own. I can understand your desire to leave fire to others. The other things are not the same, though. Don't make hasty decisions about them.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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erikkloeker Loyal user Cincinnati, Ohio 203 Posts |
Also after it is healed use Mederma on the scarring and keep sun screen on any of the scar tissue.
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Devious Inner circle 2120 Posts |
Mr. Cameron, I'm sorry that you suffered in this accident. I do thank you for sharing your experience here. It takes a man with real integrity to admit to mistakes. You have my respect for certain. Let this be a warning that this type of performance isn't for the casual hobbyist. Fire breathing is a performance art like no other my friends.
Here's to your continued healing Mr. Cameron. |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Eric, if it does not burn without a wick, how do you get a column of fire?
I appreciate the comments, except for Eric, who seems bent on blaming me . . . When he knows.so.little. Please understand it was my fault. Fire breathing is dangerous and I did it. Everything burns at high enough temperature. Every fire breather knows that column of fire is incredibly hot. Now imagine yourself in that column... Trying to fix blame in a situation where you know so little sounds to me like you are lieing to yourself about the dangers of fire breathing. I am not some young kid playing with fire. OpIt is for people that think it is safe if they take all the precautions that I wrote this. It is not safe.. don't fool yourself. I did and was proven wrong. My shirt did not catch.fire, my hair was singed, but is very short. My hair is salt and pepper ( I'll be turning fifty soon) but my right side is now white. I thought hair turning white after teams was a wives tale. I guess not. Thankfully fire breathing is not my bread and butter. I am a full time magician and hypnotist. The doctors can't figure out why I am healing so fast, especially for my age. I believe it is because I am a hypnotist. My face loss like I was Sun burned. They say it is because it is so vascular. My right hand will have some scaring, but I will still be able to do a pass ( with cards). |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Btw I was using lamp oil for breathing, and kerosene on the torch and for eating.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Hmmm.
Freak accidents DO occur. I think those of us that love what we do, do not age the same as others. And we heal faster.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
This from Harley, who could pass for the same age as me, yet shares a birthday with Red Stuart who could pass for George Burns.
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
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thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-19 11:56, KC Cameron wrote: I didn't see anything Erik wrote that placed blame on anything, looks like he was just asking forensic questions. If someone IS bent on blaming you, maybe you shouldn't say it WAS your fault and complain about blame. Yes, Erik does say things that he doesn't know much about, but that is simply his youth showing. He's packed a lot into his young years, more than I did when I was his age. As a fellow performer injured onstage, I do sympathize with you. Heal well, it appears that you already are. As stated earlier, don't discontinue the other sideshow arts as well.
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
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erikkloeker Loyal user Cincinnati, Ohio 203 Posts |
As with many of the stunts that we do, fire breathing is as safe as you make it. You can control for just about everything except for the environment), since we can not control the environment you have to work with it, failure to compensate for changes in the environment is often the causes of accidents. I do not believe that you are unprofessional or "dissing" you for having an accident. However, if you are going to post something like this, I DO want all the details so that we can determine if there was something that could have been done differently to help prevent the accident or keep the injuries from being as severe. I want to know this so that I can help prevent myself and fellow performers from suffering a similar fate. Sideshow may not be your bread and butter, but it is my full time job and I would like continue doing it as safely as possible.
What I meant by "it will not burn without a wick" is that on your body it will not burn without some sort of wick, when you said you "became a human torch" I assumed that you/your clothes actually caught on fire, not that you were simply caught in the fire ball. If you do not know how the fuel burns without a wick when blowing a column of fire, then you are missing the number one principle of breathing fire. Hope you heal up quickly, and I appreciate your withdrawal from the marketplace. Quote:
On 2011-09-19 11:56, KC Cameron wrote: |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Red's younger by 14 hours or so.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
My only question is..How much did you get paid to eat the Fire?...
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
Very good question,,,
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
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Stephon Special user Maryland, USA 911 Posts |
Sorry about your accident. In hopes of preventing something similar happening in the future, can I ask which of the two fuels you were using when you caught fire, what you were doing (sounds like you were blowing a fireball), and what kind of safety precautions and equipment you had (not sure if the blanket was just something someone grabbed, or if it was a fire blanket).
Hope you heal quickly and fully.
~Les S. Moore, The Dapper Dipper
Swami Yomahmi and Cheeky Monkey Sideshow "Comedy is a man in trouble." ~Bill Irwin |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
As for the fuel, look at my previous past.
As for pay, it was $300 - although I fail to see the relevance. As for the blanket, of course I brought it... It is not something that is usually laying around car shows. I believe this will be my last past on this thread. |
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