Starting a fire

[ebeacham]

This is what works for me:
Take either kerosene or diesel fuel and put it in a 5 gallon bucket. Then get some of that styrofoam insulation, the blue stuff that comes in 4x8 sheets, break it up and mix with the fuel in the bucket. Place the mixture ( should be very thick ) where you want the fire to start. Make sure you spread it out !!
Works great.

 

[Egon]

If your the local Fire Brigade Captain you should hold some training sessions when you need to burn.

Egon

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Hey Gary, How did the welding class go?

I burn piles and stumps with diesel in a 1 gallon pump sprayer and a leaf blower. It's has been mentioned in the replys above so I am glad I am not the only one who does this.

Indiana Laws change by County. In my County you are not supposed to burn after dark. Guess people get excited at the site of flames. A few years ago you could not burn at all unless it was a cooking fire. Even though that has passed, at least I haven't heard it lately, I still will take a bag of marshmellows with me and sometimes old bread just in case I get challenged.

I have burned some pretty big piles over the years.

Of course my brush pile fires always have plenty of cold brew available. That's just in case the fire gets out of control.

Tom.....

 

[MossRoad]

Wrap a potato in foil and throw it in. Also a hamburger patty, an ear of corn and some carrots. Tastes better without fuel oil, though. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[WALT]

Gary:
I have experience as both the brush burner and the firefighter who responds when the pile gets out of control. Here are a couple of ideas that have worked well for me in the past.

1. Big piles do not burn efficently. While it is more work, having a hot smaller fire, 10' x 10' and feeding the wood into it, consumes it quickly. It is difficult to get the very bottom of a large pile to completely burn. Establishing a hot bed of coals, and feeding the wood on top, easily burns even green and wet stuff. The more complete the burn, the less smoke generated, and the less complaints from the neighbors.

2. If possible, start the burn in a pit, dug by your tractor etc. This contains the fire area, allows for "radiation feedback" and easies coverup and regrading after the fire.

3. While it may seem obvious, check the weather report for the wind conditions. The larger the pile, the more embers and brands generated. Have a friend assist in patroling the area, to extinguish any spot fires that might develop.

4. Use caution in starting a fire with flammable liquids. If a small amount gets the fire started, using alot only makes it more dangerous for you.
A safe method is to have a metal container at the base of the pile, with 2-3 gallons of diesel fuel. Run a trailer line of diesel fuel to the outside of the pile, and ignite with a road flare.
Motor oil generates a large amount of black smoke. Gasoline vapors are heavier than air, and will find a remote ignition source, perhaps lighting you on fire.

5. Where I live in CT., a permit is required from the local Fire Marshall or burning official. They will inspect the area for hazards and establish the conditions to allow you to conduct your burn. Having your burn get out of control, and spreading to your buildings, neighbors, woods, etc. uses up your local Fire Depts. resources needlessly, when the origin is most preventable.

I'll get down from my soapbox now, but reiterate that the burning the smaller hotter pile takes more work, but will give you a better result. Also, if you invite some fireman buddies over to assist you, get most of the work done, prior to taking the lock off the beer cooler.

Good Luck with your fire:

WALT "The ol' Captain"

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Tom,

Welding class is going great. I had some trouble early on seeing what I was doing (bifocals and welding don't go together) but starting using my sports glasses and now am really going to town. Thanks for asking! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The local fire guys here were fine with me burning after dark so I guess that's OK in Allen Co. They just asked that I let them know when and where so they wouldn't run out there on a call for no reason. They even offered to bring a pump truck by so I'd have water available in case I needed it. Really helpful folks. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Richard,

Ditto on not burning tires. I talked with the State Forestry
guy a few years ago about burning. He specifically mentioned
tires. He said if they or the fire marshal found tire cords in a
burn they would write you up. Don't know why they would
care but its in their regulations...

Since the State Forestry office in my county is less than a
mile from my land as the crow flys I don't want to get them
on my case! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

FYI. The burn that I did weeks ago and is buried under ash
and dirt is still hot. We have had inches and inches of rain
since the burn. I was digging around the pile with a shovel
this weekend and saw some nice charcol. Figured that there
might be a "vein" in the pile that might be worth digging out
for a BBQ. Bent down to inspect the charcol and that sucker
was still HOT. If I had touched it I would have been burned
bad! I'm hoping the FD will come out next time and flood the
pile......

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[dhvd79a]

Gary, I have been reading this thread with interest. I have been doing 3 to 4 burns per year for the last 17 years and have never had to use any kind of accelerant.

If the pile contains some reasonbly dry limbs just gather up a lot of dry kindling and set the fire using this. If you can't find enough dry you can use a little paper and cardboard to get the kindling started.

The only thing I have ever used to light the fires other than a match or a butane lighter is a propane torch. It provides a reliable hot flame for as long as you need it.

Gasloline is too dangerous and I suspect that proper kindling would work better that charcoal lighter. Your decision but I see no reason to use any kind of chemicals to start a fire.

A little story. A friend of mine was having a hobo roast(trash can cooking at its best) and had dug a fire pit. They tried using several methods (charcoal lighter, gasoline, paper..)

I finally couldn't take it anymore and gathered a large quantity of dry grass, leaves and increasing sizes of twigs. Fire started first time and had a blaze in about 10 minutes.


Dave

 

[Buster57]

I use newspapers and safety flare.

My neighbor had a brand new TC-29 (?) and had it working a big fire all afternoon. The problem was that all the smoke got sucked into the air intake and his engine fried.

Apparently this (stupidity) is not covered by warranty and he was stuck with a large and embarrassing repair bill.

If you use your tractor keep it out of the smoke.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

WOW! I'd like to think I wouldn't have done anything like that even without your warning but I appreciate it nonetheless. I'd hate to be buying a new engine for a 100 hour tractor.