Burning Brush Piles

[TheGriff]

I had a few acres cleared of cedar trees and now I have about ten 25 ft long and 15 ft tall brush piles. I really hate to burn these because I wanted to make use of at least some of the trees, but after trying to unmangle the piles, I've determined that burning is my only option.

I've never done this before and am very wary to create such a big fire. How can I be sure that it doesn't cause a huge disaster? I see all my neighbors burning piles often but never that big. What precautions should I take? How do I prepare for this? I'm not really sure what to expect.

[M5farm]

do you have a local Vol fire dept? if you do call them and tell them what you want to burn and there will be 2 or 3 guys that would come out with a truck and burn it for a donation to the dept.

[JoePa]

I burn a lot of brush piles each year - I run a hose down to where I'm burning just in case the fire should get away from me - been doing it for many years and never had a problem - I just feel better with the hose there and ready - just in case - pick a day when it isn't too windy and at a time of year when everything is green - usually in the middle of summer -

[TnAndy]

Also be aware you may need a burn permit. From Oct thru April in Tennessee, you must have a burn permit issued by the local State Forest Service office.

[JB Weld]

If you have access to water, wet the area down that is around the pile of brush. Also, start it on the side that will allow the wind to blow the flames into the pile.

Most importantly, wet down the trampoline if you have one nearby. The burning ash from my brushpile put about 20 new holes in our trampoline!

[Ozarks Tom]

DO NOT start them with gasoline! Lots of folks burned pretty badly from that. I light ours with kindling and a propane torch.

Keep a shotgun with birdshot handy. Reduce the rat and snake population while you're at it.

[DEKE01]

If you are in Florida, you need a permit for piles that big. Because wild fires are so frequent, if they see the smoke from a big pile, a plane flies over to check it out. No permit, big fine.

To get a permit, you have to create an account that details where your property is and how the fire dept can access it in case things go bad. You also have to have heavy equipment such a a loader on site to fight a runaway. You get a permit the morning of the burn by calling a number and the fire has to be mostly out by 5PM.

You'll be left with a much smaller pile, but you'll still end up with unburned logs and stumps. I just kept re-piling and re-burning but I had tons of slash left over from logging and then stumping most of 100 acres. I buried a lot of half burnt stuff and spread the ash in the fields to fertilize and raise the Ph just a bit.

[edcopp]

Ignore it. It will go away by itself, in time. No fire truck, hose, or permit needed.

[Bret]

Pick your battle. Work with nature and wait for a rain or drizzle with little or no wind. Have a way to put out fires that try to end run you. It can be scary when it first gets going. When it gets going, the rain won't be a problem at ground zero.

I have a 50 gallon spot sprayer on the tractor. Make sure the tractor has plenty of gas. (I forgot that one time. Almost let a fire get around me and ahead of me.)

"Oh yeah, I meant to burn that area off."

[Darren]

Check with a fire department and see what the law is in your state. This is fire season. Many states have restrictions this time of year. Wetting the perimeter won't work if the fire is big enough and you have a wind that will scatter embers.

[michael ark]

Have you look at this before.https://www.google.com/search?q=huge...kultur&tbm=vid

[fishhead]

I burn when the ground is snow covered.

[badlander]

We have two piles like OP described that need burning. The local conservation guy told us to wait till it is winter with about a foot of snow on the ground. We had that amount of snow this past winter....only it was too darned cold to stand outside and tend them while they were burning. Oh well.

Like mentioned, our piles have shrank considerable in size due to natural deterioration. Plus they make great habitat for rabbits and birds while they are rotting away.

[Gray Wolf]

We put all our slash in one big pile every year. The pile is now about 50' x 75' x 15' tall. It will get larger by the time we are done trimming trees and cutting firewood this spring. It's in a clearing about 200' in dia.

We wait for snow and have turned the burn into a Christmas season tradition. We touch it off and keep pushing it up with the tractor. After a few days it's just right for roasting chestnuts.

[fishhead]

Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

We put all our slash in one big pile every year. The pile is now about 50' x 75' x 15' tall. It will get larger by the time we are done trimming trees and cutting firewood this spring. It's in a clearing about 200' in dia.

We wait for snow and have turned the burn into a Christmas season tradition. We touch it off and keep pushing it up with the tractor. After a few days it's just right for roasting chestnuts.

If you were to chip that pile and re-pile it with water line buried in the pile you could have almost free hot water. Jean Pain did that and I believe he also produced heat for his house at the same time.

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by edcopp

Ignore it. It will go away by itself, in time. No fire truck, hose, or permit needed.

I doubt that... at least not in my lifetime.... notice this is cedar. Not your average biodegradable brush.

[Awnry Abe]

Originally Posted by JB Weld

If you have access to water, wet the area down that is around the pile of brush. Also, start it on the side that will allow the wind to blow the flames into the pile.

Most importantly, wet down the trampoline if you have one nearby. The burning ash from my brushpile put about 20 new holes in our trampoline!

I'm of the burn against the wind school of thought. It gives a more complete burn, and is easier to contain. Burning with no wind is best.

We also tend our brush fires with a tractor front-end loader or shovels. With a FEL, you can scrape the ash and smoldering stuff into the center of the mass after it burns down and save some of the surrounding ground from char.

Totally agree on the wetting aspect. Right after a snow is the very safest time to burn.

[ksfarmer]

You will be astounded at how hot and fast and how big a fire cedar makes. Be prepared as others have said and make sure you have a big clear area around the burn pile. Snow cover is highly recommended if possible.

[DJ in WA]

You need to consider your neighbors, also. Many think when they move out to the country it means fresh air. Unfortunately, in the country many think they can burn anything and it won't bother anyone.

Which is why I try to burn when neighbors are likely gone or indoors or the wind is blowing away from them. I like a breeze to disperse the smoke. On days with no wind, the smoke can settle and is not good.

As others said, just make sure it is during a very wet or snowy time.

[Allen W]

Cedar burns best before the needles fall off the piled trees. They'll go up in a big whoosh when every thing is just right.

Brush piles will burn for several days so keep that in mind when planning.