Woman Lights Herself on Fire at Fair

A woman lit herself on fire Tuesday night in front of dozens of people at the Arkansas Oklahoma State Fair. It is just one of many acts drawing big crowds at the event this year.

“If you follow the rules, if you follow the process you’ll be fine,” said Lucie Denault, a diver.

Dressed in black, wearing a cape soaked in gasoline, Denault climbed onto a platform and lit herself on fire.

“After 25 years it doesn’t scare me at all because it’s automatic. I know what to do,” she said.

Denault covers her face and takes a deep breath before lighting up. “You have to hold it as long as possible because people want to see the fire, but once you can’t breathe no more you gotta go,” she said.

Denault dives into the pool below filled with water to put out the fire. “If you feel a bit of a burn or a warm you gotta go,” she said.

Denault travels around the world performing with a high dive team. They have performed at events in Japan, Brazil, Australia, and even China.

They do stunts, dives, and take turns lighting themselves on fire. Each diver is trained.

“Most of the dive with the suit that we wear we actually don’t feel it,” said Nathan Larowe, a diver. “The crowd feels it more than we do.”

Divers wear two suits while performing the stunt. Denault says she has never been injured, but others have showing off.

“One of our divers just got the nose and a bit on the eyebrow because of that,” said Denault. “They’re trying to do too much.”

The high dive team does several shows each day at the fair.