Burning Poison Ivy

[El Wood]

Hey guys... I'm currently in the process of clearing a few acres of brush. After using my tractor, my friend brought in his dozer for the heavy stuff. He ended up making a couple big piles for me to burn. As I was looking closer at the piles, I started wondering if poison ivy could be in them. I've read that burning poison ivy is very dangerous and can even be fatal.

Is there a safe way to burn poison ivy? Can you wear a mask and goggles?

Here is one of the piles...

 

[murphy1244]

Stay upwind

 

[Marveltone]

I would never go anywhere near a pile of burning poison Ivy. That's very dangerous and just plain nasty! I just spray mine and let it rot where it sits. If it's in a bunch of other wood and brush that really needs to be burned, make sure you stay upwind of it. You DO NOT want that smoke to get in your lungs!

Joe

 

[dolai]

Don't.

If you must, HEPA/carbon filter (yellow/purple) on a full-face respirator. The main hazard is inhalation of airborne urushiol.

 

[Piperflyer]

A friend of the family almost died because she inhaled poison ivy while burning it. She got it internally and was hospitalized for days

 

[DT86]

If at all possible I wait several months (sometimes almost a year) after building a brush pile before burning it. This gives time for everything to dry out, including the Poison Ivy. Never had a problem... so far.

My Great Grandmother also almost died from inhaling smoke from some Poison Ivy. It was before my time but she always told the cautionary tale.

 

[MacLawn]

Yes, bad stuff, be careful. I'd figure out something, research if it can indeed be burned when dried out.

 

[BobRip]

It can affect others in the area. Evacuate the area. Actually don't burn it.

 

[ShaneG]

Letting it dry out good helps it start faster and burn faster. Old friend said big flames will help push the smoke up and away. That's what you want.

 

[pclausen]

If one is imune to poison ivy (as I am) as far as getting a rash/blisters from touching it, does that also make one imune to the smoke, or are the 2 not related?

 

[murphy1244]

If one is imune to poison ivy (as I am) as far as getting a rash/blisters from touching it, does that also make one imune to the smoke, or are the 2 not related?

That imuneity does not stay with you, it comes and goes. I was till I hit 46 years old now I can't walk past it without scratching.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

If you can get the dozer back on your place, it is safer to dig a trench and bury the piles. That's what they do around here.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Have burnt it many times, just be aware and stay out of the smoke. It is not a twig or two that will hurt you, it is when you burn a bunch of it, but when in doubt stay out of the smoke.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would burn it without worry but take the precaution of 1)staying out of the smoke 2) make sure the smoke doesn't carry over to a neighbor so only do it when the wind direction will carry the smoke away to a uninhabited area 3) make it a hot fire by waiting at least 1 year to burn so it is nicely dried out so it minimizes the smoke and carries the fumes high into the air to dilute the vapors.

 

[super55]

By glancing at the picture it from what I can see it doesn't appear to be any poison ivy. The brush looks more along the lines of saplings than a tangled vine mess typical with poison ivy. That doesn't mean it isn't in there. The oil is in the leaves, stems and roots so just because it looks dead doesn't mean it is not there.

As others have said find a calm day torch it and stay upwind. I've burned it before in a brush pile by dousing the pile with diesel/used motor oil mix to make sure it would light and stay lit. Once it's burning the draft will pull the smoke up and away but if you end up with a smoldering fire it will be hard to get it to take off without exposing yourself to the smoke. I would advice getting your permit and lighting it soon. Typically by the 3rd week of april through mid-may there's a burn ban. I don't know about your county but in mine if there is snow on the ground than you do not need to apply for a permit at all.

 

[tachnem]

When I was a young a kid up the street got it bad all over his face and neck from smoke from a burn pile. He looked like an alien for weeks.

 

[Western]

X's 1000 what the uys have said about the smoke, poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac, same thing.

I could play in the stuff when I was a kid, then one day got in the smoke the neighbor was burning ad spent the next 2 weeks wishing I could breath, I was 10. Now the stuff will get me even when I drive by it

I have been told you build an imunity to it over time......been 40 years:confused3::laughing:

 

[Gunny]

I've been immune to poison ivy for years, but I'd still avoid burning it unless I absolutely had to. I cut some firewood once that had ivy on it, I wasn't concerned because it doesn't bother me, but my wife added some wood to the insert one day and got eaten up by the smoke.

 

[DT86]

I've been immune to poison ivy for years, but I'd still avoid burning it unless I absolutely had to.

I am partially immune, I only seem to get it on the tender skin between my fingers. One time I got it on my gentlemen parts, I will never make that mistake again.