Safety, LNT & Playa Friendliness

Fire Safety
The fire pit at the heart of The Cave makes a number of fire safety precautions necessary:

  • A project member will always be present while a fire is burning in the pit.
  • The wood storage box will be locked to prevent anyone except a project member from making or stoking a fire in the pit.
  • The fire pit will be enclosed in a screen to prevent stray sparks.
  • The shadow screen will be made of a minimally flammable material
  • 3 entrances/exits will provide quick exit in case of a fire accident
  • Two large fire extinguishers and a square edge shovel will be on hand
  • The generator and fuel supply will be stored approximately 35′ from the fire. The fuel will be stored in the firewood box rather than in the generator box, which could contain a source of ignition.

Wind
The shadow screen is the element most affected by wind. It will be supported by the columns, which themselves will be supported with heavy guy lines.

Nightime Safety
Light from the fire pit and shadow projectors will keep The Cave visible at night. Safety lights will also mark the structure for any times when the fire and projectors are not lit. All guy lines and rebar will be marked with reflective tape. The wood storage and generator boxes will be marked with reflectors and safety lights. Rebar and power agar anchors will be padded and capped.

Disturbing the Playa Surface
It will be necessary to dig a shallow trench for the power cable running from the generator to the shadow projectors. The fire pit will be raised above the playa surface to prevent heat from scarring the ground.

MOOP
The fire pit will have a screen that will catch any sparks or embers that jump out. A surface on the ground below the fire pit will catch any ash that falls over the edges of the pit. Otherwise, the shadow screen will make the interior fairly wind-free, reducing MOOPiness.

Burning Artwork
The Cave is not intended to be burned at the end of the event. Usable materials will be donated to Burners Without Borders.

Leave No Trace Plan
LNT plan for The Cave involves several design and maintenance elements. NOTHING WILL BE LEFT ON THE PLAYA!

Design Elements

  • The generator will be set on top of a pan that will catch any leaking oil or gasoline.
  • The interior will be largely wind-free, reducing any accidental loss of MOOPy items from participants.
  • The fire pit will be deep enough to prevent ash from being blown out.

Ongoing Maintenance

  • The Cave and the vicinity around it will be cleaned of any MOOP on a daily basis.
  • The firepit will be emptied of ash and other material every evening. This waste will be stored in contractor bags in the firewood box.

Teardown and Cleanup

  • The benches, gazebo and frieze will be deconstructed into their constituent pre-fabricated pieces
  • The area surrounding The Cave will be grided, and all MOOP will be picked up in contractor bags.
  • Serviceable lumber & building materials will be donated to Burners Without Borders. We expect this to be most of the lumber for the firewood and generator boxes, the columns, and other miscellaneous pieces.
  • Unserviceable lumber will be added to a community burn platform (if it is not full) or hauled to Fernley Sanitation.
  • All MOOP and other items requiring disposal will also be hauled to Fernley Sanitation.
  • DPW will need to remove the anchors we have requested to be added by the power agar.