fire sculpture spectacle

FlameWriter Productions

FlameWriter Productions

FlameWriter

Activating Victorian precincts with custom fire sculptures

FlameWriter Productions brings together artists, builders, producers, support crew and safety professionals to deliver installations and live spectacle at any scale

Our work creates a drawcard for audiences, delivering a unique experience, warmth, and excitement to every event.

We forged our skills creating effigies and fire sculptures as part of the global Burning Man phenomenon, and are bringing this transformative experience to a wider Victorian audience.

Safety & risk management

FlameWriter Productions manages the entire risk and compliance process from concept to extinguishment.

Our team works with event managers and safety leads to ensure all requirements are met, with custom documentation prepared for every engagement.

We partner with Event First Aid and Fire Services to provide qualified personnel and equipment to manage any risk scenario.

Bookings

The best place to start exploring the best spectacle your event is a meeting on Zoom or the phone via our contact page

More information

• Working with us
• Risk Management & Safety
• Fire sculpture creative process
• Environment
• Testimonials

Working with us

Our typical process (tailored to every event)

1. Initial conversation to understand your event and context:
   • Your creative vision
   • Audience size and makeup
   • Date and location
   • Site suitability, access and protection
   • General safety considerations
   • Working with your existing team and structures
   • Ballpark budget
2. Confirm availability of key safety personnel
3. Proposal and quote
4. Booking confirmation and final details
5. Safety planning and documentation
6. Creative
   • Concept development and aesthetics
   • Structural design
   • Burn choreography
7. Build
8. Installation
9. Show day: setup and performance
10. Pack-down and site clean-up
11. Debrief and wrap-up report

Risk Management & Safety

We approach our work with a high level of professionalism with a specific focus on public safety.

Starting with our thorough risk assessment process, we partner with Event First Aid and Fire Services to plan the management of all risks throughout our entire process including:

• Site specific considerations
• Compliance requirements (eg for council venues)
• Liaise with the relevant authorities and permit requirements
• Fire risk and management documentation
• Weather scenarios including conditions to cancel or delay the burning component
• Crowd control and emergency planning
• Provisioning qualified fire and medical personnel and equipment
• Coordination of crowd control, emergency response and security
• Structural collapse, ember minimisation and ash containment
• Site cleanup

We will only burn when the weather conditions are safe. This decision is made by the on-site Fire Safety Lead prior to the planned ignition, drawing on their qualifications and guidance from agencies such as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the CFA.

Fire sculpture creative process

Creative approaches are tailored to each client’s vision and budget.

We can lead with our own creative direction, work from a detailed brief, freestyle the build, or produce CAD drawings.

Our team also brings extensive experience facilitating community participation across design, build and performance, creating inclusive, culturally safe collaboration.

Let’s discuss which approach will work best for your event.

Environment

Environmental protection and sustainability are key values of FlameWriter Productions. We want our ash, once filtered for nails and screws, to fertilise the soil.

We apply our values to our work in the following ways:

Lifecycle

We source our timber from waste streams including old pallets, factory off cuts, mill waste and timber from demolition work.

We will only use new plantation timber if required to meet structural engineering requirements which only applies to large structures.

Clean burns

All materials are strictly audited to ensure no treated, painted or contaminated timber is used in our work.

Additional materials such as fixings and special effects are audited to ensure they do not include any potential toxicity and for their suitability for safety, burning and cleanup.

We do not use laminates such as plywood except in very rare circumstances when required for to meet structural engineering requirements which only applies to large structures.

We minimise fossil fuels as accelerants as much as practical and prioritise organic fuels such as waste vegetable oil and ethanol.

We do not work with any material that could be potentially explosive, fireworks, LPG or pressurised liquid fuel.

Documentation

All material used in our sculptures are listed in the safety documentation produced for every show

Testimonials

Just wanted to reach out to say a huge thank you for the planning and delivery of the fire sculpture for the Frankston Fire Festival on Saturday.

Despite the weather, we’ve had such a good response from the community on how much they loved the event. The sculpture was spectacular, and the craftmanship was amazing. It was nearly too beautiful to light!

Thank you again for all the time and effort you delivered through the planning. You were meticulous in the planning elements relating to risk & safety, and have been a pleasure to work with.

Carolyn Smith
Head of Festivals and Major Events – Frankston City Council

The Fire Sculpture built by Pyromancer & Co (a FlameWriter Collaboration) was a big hit at Firefly Night Market 2024. Feedback from attendees identified the Fire Sculpture as one of the top three highlights at the event, along with the vibrant stage program and diverse market stalls.

Pyromancer & Co worked collaboratively with local stakeholders including the Truganina CFA and Pasifika Community Australia Inc.

Local community members from the Pasifika Community were delighted with the opportunity to light the fire safely with CFA support. An impressive element of the sculpture was the flying bird that waved its wings once the fire was lit.

Phoebe​​​​ Crockett
Place Activation Officer – Wyndham City Council

During the time I have worked alongside Glenn, I have found him to be both professional and very reliable. He consistently delivers what he promises and puts safety first. He works well with all stakeholders to ensure that budgets and timelines are met.

Glenn has consistently demonstrated a strong sense of community and does what is needed to ensure his projects have the intended impact desired.

Justin Mcghee
Burning Man (USA) Regional Contact

Glenn has demonstrated exceptional design & building skills, collaborative leadership abilities with a strong emphasis on safety. Using these key skills, he has proven himself to be a mature and inspiring mentor. As a clear communicator he is enthusiastic, humble and honest.

Nick Westcott
Burning Seed Event Coordinator 2021