This race is on fire

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival in Devon, England, Nov. 5, 2013

The tradition, which is over 400 years old, sees competitors (who must have been born in the town to take part) running with burning barrels on their backs through the village, until the heat becomes too unbearable or the barrel breaks down, starting with junior barrels carried by children and continuing all evening with ever larger and larger barrels.

The event, which has been threatened with closure in previous years due to increasing public liability insurance costs, raises thousands of pounds for charity and attracts spectators from around the world.

All photos taken in Devon, England, Nov. 5, 2013

A young boy picks up a burning barrel soaked in tar in Ottery St. Mary.

A boy picks up a burning barrel soaked in tar at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is prepared at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A boy runs with a burning barrel soaked in tar in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried ablaze through the crowds at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A young boy picks up a burning barrel soaked in tar in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

Two boys pick up a burning barrel soaked in tar in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is prepared at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried through the crowds at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A boy runs with a burning barrel soaked in tar at the Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A boy runs with a burning barrel soaked in tar in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried through the streets in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is prepared for the children's race at the Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried through the streets in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

Junior tar barrel participants pose for a photograph prior to carrying burning tar barrels in Ottery St. Mary.

A burning barrel soaked in tar blazes at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is prepared for one of the children's events at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried through the crowds at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

Warning signs are displayed at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.

A burning barrel soaked in tar is carried at the annual Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrel festival.