Pageantry and Council Fires serve to emphasize the point of the devotion during many Royal Rangers events. However, regardless of procedures used, safety must always be the utmost consideration. The following guidelines are therefore provided to assist in insuring a safe and beneficial council fire program.
- Rehearse each part of the pageant before any production begins, and assess the results of the rehearsal. Walk through the production so the actors know what is going to happen, and the fire starter knows when to start the fire.
- Inform participants of the location of any fires, the method of starting the fire, the safety zone, methods of extinguishing the fire and any possible hazards.
- Never use a fire-starting method that travels over an audience.
- Black powder firearms may be used as props ONLY and should not be loaded or fired (including blanks) as any part of the council fire program. If used as props, their unloaded condition must be verified by at least two individuals. No ammunition or black powder should be on the stage or in the area of the pageantry, and no other forms of firearms are to be used.
- Never use black powder to start a council fire.
- Use only approved stage props to create effects.
- Due to the unpredictable nature of live animals and the effect loud sounds, music, lights, pyrotechnics, and sudden movements can have on them, animals should be handled by trained professionals and there should always be a safety zone for the protection of the audience.
- If pyrotechnics are used, they should only be handled by trained professionals and there should always be a safety zone for the protection of the audience.