A good way to get a burn pile going with green wood

[Ken45101]

I would think they'd want to restrict burning in summer months when things could be dry.

Thanks for asking!

And that is the mistake people make.

Spring and fall, (old) dead vegetation dries fast with spring winds and low humidity. The ground may be muddy,. too muddy for firetrucks, but the vegetation burns with a vengeance.

Things may be dry in summer but it still greener than the old spring vegetation. And summer humidity is higher and winds milder, at least in Ohio. Fall leaves dry quickly and many plants are dead, again raising the fire risk.

Yep! i've been on a number of fires where the ground was wet but the dead vegetation burned well.

Again, this is Ohio. Fire risks in other area may peak in different seasons.

Ken

 

[rbstern]

A little diesel or camp stove fuel to get it started, and a Harbor Freight Atlas 40v leaf blower pointed to the center of the pile. Unless it's raining, it will burn.

 

[Citydude]

I learned to start a large fire with dry wood within the green wood pile.

 

[WM75Guy]

I use a couple of 3-hour fire logs to get my piles going. I place them on the upwind side so the fire starts and blows into the pile. You don't get the big column of black smoke at the beginning like you get from using diesel to get it going.

 

[FHHUBEr]

Best way to burn green stuff is to let it dry for a month to a year.
then light it.

(not the answer you wanted)

the art of fire building is in air control

Enough air able to flow through the pile of stuff you want reduced to ash.
Not too much while getting it started or you blow your flame out.

The propane weed burners work well because they inject air and a flame. Enough air to really get things going and the flame so you can't blow your weak fire out.

But setting the pile up so it can get air and catch some grass followed by twigs then larger and larger stuff you can burn it all with just a small free newspaper (as found usually when exiting the grocery store) to light it.

you also have to consider wind, but you more often need to just not burn when wind is strong enough to prevent easily lighting your bonfire.

Accelerants, blowers and even the propane torch are just ways to get away with not building the fire pile to easily light and become self sustaining.


The old tire as part of your accelerant plan... Just no. That one is generally illegal.

Here, we can burn wood and paper and natural fabrics.
They kind of frown on the accelerants.

Burn bans vs permitted times are subject to climate. Fire season here is 9 months of the year. No burning. Then the other 3 months they can ban burning fr wind or unseasonably dry weather.

It's generally a good idea to call the county sheriff's office and ask about when you can burn.

Even if it is allowed (and it is allowed here) I won't burn unless I have enough water in my pond to keep a 2 inch gas powered pump going (hose aimed back into the pond) to easily put it out should need arise.

If you don't have the water to put it out, don't start it.

 

[dmccarty]

nothing better than a discard tire and a pint of diesel fuel. ;-)

In NC, the use of a tire is illegal. If the fire marshal catches you, which he might if the fire goes out of control, and the responding units discover belted tire cord in the burned out area.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Just remember when you set brush on fire out of doors you assume all of the risk if it gets away from you for any reason. If the forestry service has to show up it gets real expensive, real fast.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I would think they'd want to restrict burning in summer months when things could be dry.

Hey, don't mess with the rules guy.

 

[JamesHW]

Nah, the best way I’ve found is a small buckets worth of chunk charcoal started in one of those bar-b-que chimney charcoal starters that use a few sheets of newspaper. Have an old flat shovel missing it’s handle we set under the center of the pile with plenty of fuel above it to dry out and ignite. Found this method is also great for starting backyard fires because everything gets hot real fast, minimizing a smokey startup. Surprised a few old timers with that trick going from wet brush to roaring blaze in no time at all.

 

[CalG]

For all those "when the fire get's out of control" cops, Burning when there is snow on the ground just makes so much sense. I have never NEEDED to burn a pile in summer.

For those that don't get snow... Tuff it up and pay to have the stuff hauled off ;-)