Fire Walk Challenge 2025
Blazing a trail for Animals
Saturday 8 November 2025
Havenstreet Station
4pm – 7pm
Would you walk barefoot over hot coals to help animals in need?
Step up for an evening of courage, community, and compassion at the RSPCA Isle of Wight Fire Walk Challenge.
Every step you take on the embers will help transform the lives of vulnerable animals. Your support will provide vital shelter, veterinary care, and the chance of a happy ending for the hundreds of animals we care for each year.
No experience needed: We’ll give you all the training you need on the day. You bring the courage and compassion – we’ll handle the rest.
Registration: £25 per person
We kindly ask each participant to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship to support our life-saving work.
Places are limited – don’t miss out!
Join us and become a firewalker for animal welfare.
Information
What exactly is a Fire Walk?
Before the challenge we’ll give you expert-led training. When the fire has burned to red-hot embers it is raked level and prepared for the walk. Participants go to the fire, remove their footwear and one by one are invited to walk the coals.
Is it a trick?
No – the fire is very real. The embers will be glowing red-hot and we can often measure the temperature at around 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. You will have bare feet, and they will not have been treated in any way.
Will it hurt?
The sensation is described by some as walking on eggshells, and others as walking on hot sand. Each walker has his or her own experience.
How should I prepare?
There is no strenuous physical exercise involved. If you can walk normally then you should manage the Fire Walk perfectly well.
There is no special clothing required. Casual comfortable clothes are best. Please remember fires can be quite dirty and clothes may become ash stained. Footwear needs to be easy to remove, and will need to be replaced before going back indoors so a hand towel might be a good idea. Flip flops are a good idea, especially if the ground is cold. Nail varnish and toe rings are fine.
We have many people walk who are pregnant, have diabetes, stroke survivors, and are blind amongst many other conditions. None have been an issue, however we always recommend if in doubt seek advice from your doctor.
There is an inherent risk in any activity involving fire. It is important that participants pay attention to all the training and heed the advice and instruction of the trainer, firewatchers and spotters. Whilst absolute safety is not guaranteed proper procedure reduces risk to the achievable minimum.
No. There is no hypnotism involved. You will be fully awake at all times – indeed you will be more alert than usual. You may also withdraw at any time if you wish.
Participants need to be aged 18 or over.
Schedule
4pm: Registration
4.30pm: Expert-led training
5pm: Fire Walks Begins
Location
The RSPCA Isle of Wight has teamed up with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway who have offered their amazing venue to our Fire Walkers and their supporters.
Meet at Havenstreet station – PO33 4DS
There is a large free car park.
RSPCA Isle of Wight
All funds raised from this event will support the Isle of Wight Branch of the RSPCA which cares for the Island’s most vulnerable animals.
We are an independent charity, supporting the work of the RSPCA locally. Our animal Centre at Rookley, cares for and rehomes dogs, cats, small animals and wildlife. Over 95% of our funding is raised on the Isle of Wight through donations, legacies, events and our charity shops.
