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

[etpm]

We have had over the years the occasion to burn lots of green branches and the like. After windstorms bring down lots of branches for example. We have a pretty big fire ring that we use for burning this kind of stuff. The fire ring does double duty as it is also used for folks to stand and sit around on cold days to socialize and eat baby back ribs with beans or whatever elase is good on cold days.

But the point of this post is getting green stuff to burn. I used to use my weed burner to get the fire going and then I would leave the weed burner going with a smaller flame pointed into the mass of green branches to keep the heat up for a long time until there was enough stuff burning well to keep the fire going. Sometimes the weed burner would need to be kept burning for 1/2 an hour or so.

Then my son said to me "Why don't you use that squirrel cage blower in the shed?" I had forgotten about a relatively small squirrel cage blower I had bought for about 5 bucks at a garage sale years before because it was so well built and I figured I could use it some day. The blower has a 1/4 HP motor and was probably made no later than 1960. But from the construction and the weight and the original wiring I suspect it was made no later than 1950. All that is beside the point though. The little squirrel cage blower is perfect for getting a good burn pile going without using lots of propane or diesel fuel.

I still use the weed burner to get the fire going but after it starts to burn I use the blower and the weed burner together for a few minutes and then just the blower. I may use the blower for quite a while as I add more material to the 6 foot diameter burn pile, but it doesn't use much power and really helps to keep the fire going. I have used this method to keep the fire going during a pretty heavy rain. The extra oxygen really helps. Once the fire is burning well I turn off the fan but if the fire stops burning so well because I have added a bunch more green branches I start the fan again.

I point the fan so that the air stream flowing from the fan is directed at the base of the fire. It is amazing just how hot the fire will get. The reason the squirel cage fan works so well is because the air stream is fairly small and concentrated, so all that extra air can be directed at the center of the fire where it is needed the most. Kinda like a laser beam. An air laser. Maybe that's a little over the top. But the air stream is concentrated and can be directed at the base where it will do the most good.

Anyway, I have seen squirrel cage fans for sale cheap at garage sales several times. I think they must come from furnaces, I'm pretty sure mine came from an old oil furnace, give its age. Keep you eyes open and buy one if you need to get burn piles going and don't want to douse the wood with diesel. For a 6 foot diameter burn pile it doesn't take a big squirrel cage fan to get a good burn going.
Eric

 

[LittleBill21]

leaf blowers work as well.

 

[CalG]

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

 

[jyoutz]

In forestry pile burning we use drip torch fuel: 50-50 mix of diesel/gasoline.

 

[5030]

Whatever accelerant you have on hand works. Great way to get rid of used motor oil.

 

[Ken45101]

Please be aware of your local burning restrictions. Ohio, for example prohibits outdoor open burning statewide in unincorporated areas during the months of March, April, May, October, and November between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. This ban includes burning of yard waste, trash, and debris, even in a proper burn barrel.

As a former volunteer firefighter in suburban and rural area, I understand the need for these restrictions.

 

[Thomas]

Good breeze soak it real good slowly feed limbs/branches from outside into middle...don't forget the hotdogs.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

leaf blowers work as well.

I have used this method with success also.

 

[3Ts]

At construction sites, they'll clear the lot and in one big pile, use about an 8" diameter pipe to the center of the brush pile and use a blower at the other end. Doesn't take long to burn the whole thing, green or not.

 

[Oaktree]

Please be aware of your local burning restrictions. Ohio, for example prohibits outdoor open burning statewide in unincorporated areas during the months of March, April, May, October, and November between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. This ban includes burning of yard waste, trash, and debris, even in a proper burn barrel.

As a former volunteer firefighter in suburban and rural area, I understand the need for these restrictions.

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

 

[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 ;-)