Fire on the Mountain is a children's chasing game, typically played outdoors. The objective is for one player, designated as "It," to tag the other players. However, players are safe from being tagged when they are touching a designated object or in a designated area, often referred to as "on the mountain."
The specific rules and variations of the game can differ depending on the region and the group playing. Common variations include:
- Designated Safe Zone: The "mountain" can be a specific physical object, such as a tree, a rock, a swing set, or simply a marked circle on the ground. Sometimes, multiple "mountains" exist.
- Requirement to Stay on the Mountain: Players must stay on the mountain for a set amount of time to be considered safe. They might need to count to a certain number or say a specific phrase.
- Limited Time on the Mountain: To prevent players from staying on the mountain indefinitely, there may be a limit to how long they can remain there.
- Transferring Safety: In some versions, a player on the mountain can "pass" their safety to another player, often by tagging them and saying "Fire on the Mountain, run, run, run!"
- Variations of "It": The player who is "It" can be chosen at random, by a volunteer, or through a traditional selection method like "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe."
The game continues until a player is tagged while not on the mountain. That player then becomes "It," and the game restarts. Fire on the Mountain promotes physical activity, strategic thinking, and social interaction.