What is the fastest way to burn a pile of logs?

[plowhog]

they're infested with pine bark beetles?

The beetles only kill live trees. Once they are dead on the ground they have lost interest.

 

[ultrarunner]

We were only able to get a burn permit because of infestation and then it was a circus with even CAL Fire helicopter and a city engine company responding

All legal and plenty of notification but still a circus... got it done and multiple agencies couldn't find any violations...

All of the tricks are pretty much off limits if going by the book.

 

[CliffordK]

An old tire in middle filled with old motor oil will really get & keep it going. Invite Gavin over for hot dogs and S'mores.

When we were burning piles of scrubby trees piled by a CAT, we got a bucket of tire shavings from a retread shop. Added used oil and diesel, and it made a great fire starter. Small scoop at a time. 5 gallons of shavings lasted for years

A diesel drip torch also helped.

Grandpa used a backpack fire fighting water sprayer filled with diesel instead, it was good at making flames, but the rubber shavings with diesel kept the fire starter burning longer

 

[4570Man]

The air quality police suggest using only diesel to start fires. Burning tires isn’t a good plan unless you want to pay a $25,000 fine.

 

[2manyrocks]

You'd think dry pine would burn like matchsticks.

 

[LittleBill21]

You'd think dry pine would burn like matchsticks.

you'd be shocked how often a tree will refuse to burn when you want it to

 

[Rockbadchild]

You'd think dry pine would burn like matchsticks.

well it's dry but not properly seasoned, I am sure there is still some bark on, it was on the ground and whole (not split) so it has a lot of humidity in it.

 

[CliffordK]

You'd think dry pine would burn like matchsticks.

It probably will. But, if you've played with fire enough, it is extremely hard to get a 1 foot log to burn alone. You can hit it with a blow torch and it will turn black. You can throw it in the middle of a fire. Then once you start getting nice flames out of it, pull it out of the middle of the fire and it will quickly burn out.

And, if you're paying attention to fire seasons, nothing will be as dry in the winter/spring as you'd like.

Thus, get the pile stacked up nicely. And you'll still be struggling to get a little patch to start it and to get the fire going. And a little fire starter always helps.

Be careful and be safe.

 

[California]

Something I see on slash piles left by loggers is the piles are tarped, presumably to be more dry and easier to ignite next spring. When it is safer to burn without starting a forest fire.

 

[shooterdon]

It seems too much to burn under the constraints you have. If a burn pile gets out of control, the fines will be substantial.

Make piles as large as you can and let them rot.