flares at glasto

[stardustjunkie]

I'm part of the local bonfire society, I have been since a young age (Sussex has lots of bonfire societies), and our event attracts around 20,000 people every year. My responsibility does involve consideration of fireworks and explosives, on quite a large level (see this pic, this was partly my doing! : https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1385849_10151800326738197_1545378435_n.jpg ).

I have to attend some pyrotechnic meetings as well, which are really boring if you have minimal knowledge but I do pick up on things..

When in procession, or on a fire site, flares do look pretty.. They do however affect your vision, often turning your surroundings green, which I can only assume has the potential to really unsettle someone if they're in a bad enough state. They let off a lot of dust/ash, a huge amount! There's been times when I've ended up with ash in my eyes, which isn't pleasant if you're reluctantly stood next to one. Also if you're wearing dark clothing, you'll be surprised at how grey you've suddenly become because of the ash, it really is a huge amount.

I've also seen flares go wrong, I've seen burnt hands causing the flare to be dropped, I've seen idiots hold the flare the wrong way round and burn themselves, etc etc etc. Which is generally fine during a bonfire, as most participants are sensible enough to wear good footwear, and are suitably covered up.

At a festival however, the potential for injury is much greater as everyone is in such a crowded space and not dressed appropriately to be around fireworks. The person igniting the flare probably doesn't have much knowledge on them either, and is more likely to be in an intoxicated state.

From my perspective, perhaps having seen more flares than I would care to count, in close proximity, I would say the festival should really enforce the banning of them for the safety of the attendees. If anything, I prefer rookies/drop downs to flares, although I've seen some nasty injuries with those as well.

[matt2007]

If i see a flare i'm off to save those in distress..as an RNLI crew its my duty!

[mattgimmeshelter]

Say what you will but when a few flares went off during sympathy for the devil last year, I thought it added to the atmosphere quite a fair bit!

Was pretty cool to be in the middle of that red misty crowd

[windy_miller]

They're not much use if its muddy. The bottom of them will get really wet and muddy.

[stardustjunkie]

They're not much use if its muddy. The bottom of them will get really wet and muddy.

[windy_miller]

Er.. what?

[stardustjunkie]

[hogga]

I was very close to someone last year who got hit on the head by a falling flare during The Rolling Stones. It was the type they use at sea and it caused her head to be really badly cut up.

[Gnomicide]

They always look pretty good though.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I was stood next to Emily Eavis at Stevie Wonder and she was more than moist when one was lit.

[Scotdy]

Were you fingering her at the time? I'm just wondering how you knew this fact.

[frostypaw]

The shoot-into-sky type flares are bad - no control over where they fall and as said can be quite harmful when it happens. Too random

The carry type depends on who's carrying it. Used safely as said they can be entirely harmless and are spectacularly atmospheric in a heaving crowd - but how do you tell who's carrying it?

Would hate to see them go. I suspect those who can get their hands on them do know what they're doing or we'd hear more stories though.

[musky]

The smell, like a dead badger

[swede]

A woman behind us lit one during muse in 2010, really added to the great atmosphere in our part of the crowd, people were going nuts

[grumpyhack]

No flares and no hot air balloons please. They might seem fun but just aren't worth the risk.

[monkey1989]

they did look awesome at the stones , im all for flares if they are handled with care and not by some drunken nut

Edited April 9, 2014 by monkey1989

[mario man]

I'm part of the local bonfire society, I have been since a young age (Sussex has lots of bonfire societies), and our event attracts around 20,000 people every year. My responsibility does involve consideration of fireworks and explosives, on quite a large level (see this pic, this was partly my doing! : https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1385849_10151800326738197_1545378435_n.jpg ).

I have to attend some pyrotechnic meetings as well, which are really boring if you have minimal knowledge but I do pick up on things..

When in procession, or on a fire site, flares do look pretty.. They do however affect your vision, often turning your surroundings green, which I can only assume has the potential to really unsettle someone if they're in a bad enough state. They let off a lot of dust/ash, a huge amount! There's been times when I've ended up with ash in my eyes, which isn't pleasant if you're reluctantly stood next to one. Also if you're wearing dark clothing, you'll be surprised at how grey you've suddenly become because of the ash, it really is a huge amount.

I've also seen flares go wrong, I've seen burnt hands causing the flare to be dropped, I've seen idiots hold the flare the wrong way round and burn themselves, etc etc etc. Which is generally fine during a bonfire, as most participants are sensible enough to wear good footwear, and are suitably covered up.

At a festival however, the potential for injury is much greater as everyone is in such a crowded space and not dressed appropriately to be around fireworks. The person igniting the flare probably doesn't have much knowledge on them either, and is more likely to be in an intoxicated state.

From my perspective, perhaps having seen more flares than I would care to count, in close proximity, I would say the festival should really enforce the banning of them for the safety of the attendees. If anything, I prefer rookies/drop downs to flares, although I've seen some nasty injuries with those as well.

[krisskross]

done 'safely' in Arcadia.

Not so safe during Coldplay. Either way looks cool..

[stardustjunkie]

If they allowed them, there would be a lot of spent flares on the floor as well. Which in themselves are a pain to dispose of.. I mean, we burn them when we pick them up after the procession but that's unlikely to be an option for them.

[UEF]

In my opinion - just like chinese lanterns. Look cool as fuck most of the time, but most definitely an accident waiting to happen and when it does there's going to be questions asked.

Imagine the scene in the more crowded areas if someone dropped one with the amount of paper plates, cups and other rubbish on the ground. We could be talking a festival version of the Bradford City Fire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXRp3qzEPiI

Keep to non-passive illegal fun at Glasto, kids. :-)

Edited April 9, 2014 by UEF

[hogga]

Were you fingering her at the time? I'm just wondering how you knew this fact.

[pie_and_a_pint]

They're not much use if its muddy boiling hot and sunny. The bottom of them will get really wet and muddy pick up all the dust

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

It was on the disabled viewing platform. She was a steward on there and just after a flare went up she collapsed like she had been shot. A few of us went over to see if she was ok and her head was bleeding badly. She got patched up and came back to finish her shift.

As for the first question, I'm intrigued to understand why just because you see something you must be fingering the person involved. I'm never going to see Jo Brand doing stand up just in case you're right.

[jed123]

Flares looked awesome last year, especially during Arctics and Stones, and was very close to a few that went up with no witnessed problems!

However, had to stamp out a thrown yellow smoke one in 2011, during Morrissey of all people?!

So, again, it all depends on whether the person's a moron or not..

[hogga]

I'm not sure if you read that conversation properly, and considering it was about Emily Eavis being moist, it's probably for the best.