Burning Brush

[turnkey4099]

That is what i am struggling with. If you have to go to all this to start a fire I am wondering how forest fires ever get started. All you need to do is put a match or a lighter up to some paper or dry grass or leaves and you have a fire. I light a brush pile about every month and never had an issue.

The problem is inlighting brush piles composed of green or only half dry brush, It ain't as simple as you make out. I usually go out armed with a minimum of 3 gallons of diesel and commonly come back empty - that's for lighting off several piles.

 

[Wagtail]

Originally Posted by Creamer
That is what i am struggling with. If you have to go to all this to start a fire I am wondering how forest fires ever get started. All you need to do is put a match or a lighter up to some paper or dry grass or leaves and you have a fire. I light a brush pile about every month and never had an issue.

The problem is in lighting brush piles composed of green or only half dry brush, It ain't as simple as you make out. I usually go out armed with a minimum of 3 gallons of diesel and commonly come back empty - that's for lighting off several piles.

Might I suggest to you Creamer, in the nicest way possible, that the rest of the world may be just a wee bit different than your piece of world. You may not ever have a problem starting a fire. turnkey4099 lives in a coastal rainforest area. The West and North of Tasmania is also a rainforest area... except when it's not (drought saw a lot of bushfire activity in the NW of the State this past summer). Right now it's wet as all get out.

Different parts of the world also have different species of trees/vegetation. Do you have to deal with predominately eucalyptus species mixed with sheoak (a type of pine)? No, of course you don't. Just as I don't have your particular mix of flora and weather conditions.

I've been following this thread to learn of alternate methods of lighting off a burn pile. I've already picked up a couple of ideas that I may try the next time I burn.

Just as I've picked up so much knowledge about tractors & rural life from the members here on TBN. Don't sweat it , Mate.

 

[Piston]

I have to say, it IS actually pretty simple, if you use the right methods. I'm all for using accelerants and leaf blowers to get my fires cranking, but only because it's quicker.

If you know how to properly start a small camp fire, there is no need whatsoever for any type of diesel, gas, paper, etc. and yes, even in extremely wet environments.

That doesn't mean it's not fun learning about other, easier, faster ways! I do like the garden sprayer idea, and have always gotten my fires roaring with a leaf blower.

 

[jack707]

Rub two sticks together!

 

[PJSprog]

I second the propane burner! I've got an inexpensive Harbor Freight one with the piezo lighter.

I just bought one of those this summer. It works great. I usually just use a small amount of paper or cardboard, or use the opportunity to dispose of the paper strips from the document shredder. Sometimes a little dry grass or leaves works, too. The propane torch, though, changed all of that. I lit off a large pile a couple weeks ago that contained a combination of tree limbs, scrap lumber, and old furniture. I walked around it with the torch and started it at three points. It was roaring in no time.

I've never felt comfortable using fuel in a brush fire. Gasoline is just too dangerous. I may try the diesel/oil combo, though. Good way to dispose of used oil.

 

[Creamer]

Might I suggest to you Creamer, in the nicest way possible, that the rest of the world may be just a wee bit different than your piece of world. You may not ever have a problem starting a fire. turnkey4099 lives in a coastal rainforest area. The West and North of Tasmania is also a rainforest area... except when it's not (drought saw a lot of bushfire activity in the NW of the State this past summer). Right now it's wet as all get out.

Different parts of the world also have different species of trees/vegetation. Do you have to deal with predominately eucalyptus species mixed with sheoak (a type of pine)? No, of course you don't. Just as I don't have your particular mix of flora and weather conditions.

I've been following this thread to learn of alternate methods of lighting off a burn pile. I've already picked up a couple of ideas that I may try the next time I burn.

Just as I've picked up so much knowledge about tractors & rural life from the members here on TBN. Don't sweat it , Mate.

I understand what you are saying and while NE Indiana is not wettest climate in the world is it is a long, long way from the dryest. I followed the thread out of amusement at the ways people light a fire. I must assume they go through all this due to impatience with letting a fire develop or just for the fun of it.

I do have a problem with people trying to burn brush that they have not given ample time to dry out as the smoke is not a good thing. I prefer a very hot fire that burns clean and fully oxidizes the gases emitted. While not a greenie I do not think we should indiscriminately add to pollution. Of course this is just me as nature sends a lot of smoke in the air when it has a wild fire where it is very indiscriminate.

 

[farmer2009]

I have found the fire starter bricks work good. Then use diesel fuel and backpack blower to help spread. Then keep them piled with the dozer. Most of my piles are tree length and piled with the dozer originally.

 

[aczlan]

I will take a bale of hay, stuff flakes in around the outside and then put 2-3 splashes of used motor oil onto each one.
Then I light it with a propane blowtorch and that puts enough heat in to light the pile.

Aaron Z

 

[roadhunter]

Leaf blower is the way to go IMO. Amazing how much faster a pile will burn with a leaf blower.

 

[bcp]

Leaf blower is the way to go IMO. Amazing how much faster a pile will burn with a leaf blower.

If Moses had a leaf blower, he might not have had to lead a bunch of refugees from Egypt.



Bruce