Surrounded by flames, Sandoval signs an unusual bill

By David McGrath Schwartz

Friday, June 3, 2011 | 12:34 p.m.

If only all bill signings were this exciting.

Surrounded by fire performers, Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill Thursday night that establishes an apprenticeship fire performer program.

"There's not another governor in America that's signing a bill like this," Sandoval told the gathering adjacent to the Nevada Legislature at 11:02 p.m.

Assembly Bill 304 places in law regulations established by the state fire marshal. It contained a fee - $27.50 to register - and so required a 2/3rds majority for passage.

The bill died last week in the Senate, when Republicans voted against it. But the next day the Senate brought it back to life - dare we say, it rose from the ashes like a phoenix? - and passed it with some Republican support.

Tom Clark, a lobbyist, said he brought the bill on behalf of Controlled Burn, a Reno-based performance group that can be seen at the Nevada Day Parade and the Burning Man festival, along with other events.

Clark said fire performing "is gaining in popularity. Controlled Burn wanted to make sure there was a level of safety."

He noted that the bill signing on Thursday night was permitted by the Carson City Fire Department.