2 Fire Eating Performers Arrested at Festival

The performance of two fire eaters got a little too hot for Johnson City, Tenn. police, who cited them as a safety hazard at the annual Blue Plum Festival.

The men were arrested June 1 when they used kerosene to spew fire from their mouths and posed a “danger by flames that was around the area of performance,” according to the police report. They were charged with reckless endangerment.

Police say Michael Fatolitis and Philip J. Rose, both 19, were carrying around a gallon-sized container of kerosene that could have caused serious injury if it ignited during their act at the outdoor music and art festival.

“A lot of things come into play and it was all geared toward making the festival a safe place to bring your family,” Maj. Trent Harris said of law enforcement at the event.

Information from: Johnson City Press,
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com