GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Worried that a flaming man fired from a cannon might send the wrong message to children on the eve of Fire Prevention Week, the city commission has snuffed out the act of a headliner with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
``Bailey's Comet'' will not soar brightly when ``The Greatest Show on Earth'' visits Van Andel Arena this week.
The circus' city fireworks permit still will allow performer Tina Miser to shoot her husband out of a cannon. But it won't let her douse him with lighter fluid before she sends him sailing across the arena.
Brian Miser, whom the circus promotes as a ``human fireball,'' wears two fireproof suits and is doused with fire extinguishers when he lands, so the act probably would pass a city safety inspection, Fire Safety Inspector Ted Jensen said.
Jensen said he was concerned about the children who see the act.
``As a fire department, we're having a hard time with it,'' he told commissioners on Tuesday.
Circus acts, rock bands and civic groups long have been required to get permits from the city's fire department before they can put on pyrotechnic displays, The Grand Rapids Press reported Wednesday.
Sunday, the last day the circus will be in town, also will mark the start of Fire Prevention Week, Jensen said.
``That makes it a little more difficult for us,'' he said.
Mayor George Heartwell agreed.
``Your mayor and your commissioners are going to back up your good judgment on this,'' he told Jensen.
First Ward Commissioner Roy Schmidt was the only ``no'' vote on the seven-member commission.
``I think we need to support the circus,'' he said. ``They wouldn't do something if it isn't safe.''
A circus spokesman said Ringling Bros. was continuing to work with city officials to find a solution that would allow circus-goers to witness ``the single most daring act ever.''
The circus has a strong commitment to audience and performer safety, spokesman Darin Johnson said.
``City regulators and public officials in 80 cities have allowed Bailey's Comet to be performed, and our safety record speaks for itself in that Bailey's Comet has been safely performed in every show since its debut in January 2003 -- a total of 770 performances,'' Johnson said in a written statement.
