Green Tree pile that didn't burn !

[rrmccabe]

Greetings all. First post

We bought a 3 acre piece of land with about 500' of creek along the front. We had the land cleared and a large culvert installed for the drive. We ended up with a large brush pile that is about 80% green trees. You can see the pile here

I truly expected this pile to light off and burn easy. I piled dead wood on three sides that I had cut up in two foot lengths with the chainsaw. Since it was piled with a dozer I really did not have control of what went were. In retrospect I think I would have talked to them and started with some dead stuff on the bottom.

Anyway yesterday, I dumped about 24 gallons of diesel fuel on the pile and lit it off. Some of the small branches flashed off and the dry stuff I had piled caught fire and burned well. This dry stuff was under the green wood and I had 3 fires burning 6-8 feet tall. We even used a leaf blower to accelerate the burn. But once the dry stuff had burned up the fire was done !

I am going to try again in two weeks (have plans next weekend).

Here is what I am thinking. I have a bunch of 2" sheet stryrofoam and I am going to take three 5 gallon buckets and mix the stryrofoam into gasoline until is thickened.

I have an acre that is uncleared still and there is some dead stuff on it. I am thinking about climbing up on the pile and tossing as much dead stuff in the middle as I can. Most will stay on top I am sure. Then pour the gas/styro mix over the top of the pile with most of it in the center and light it off. I could easily stop by some local carpet places and pickup a couple rolls of padding if that would be a big help.

Any comments would be appreciated. I am really surprised it did not burn. The trees I could identify are Honey Locust, Hackberry and Mulberry. The dry stuff I used to start it was walnut.

I have 50' of dirt minimum around it so its pretty save to burn.

Thanks

 

[Willl]

You need to raise the temp of your burn with continuous forced air.

Stryrofoam ?, really ?, glad I'm not your neighbor

 

[Sniggle]

Understand the direction of the wind. Light the pile so that the wind will push the fire through the pile. Be sure that the end you light is densly packed. A tire burns hot and long and can do a good fire starter. No matter how green it will burn once it gets hot enough.

(Caution: When the fire gets going, fed by the wind into the pile, it will really get going. Be sure that the wind can not push the flames or heat into down wind combustible stuff like cedar trees).

 

[Scooby074]

Sniggle is right. Lots of tires!!! and be mindful of the wind. Its usually better to build on top of a tire base, but gas filled tires thrown on top before you light can work too. I usually mix some used oil or diesel into my gas (75% gas). This will help to slow down the "flash" of the gas.

Check your local regs too. Officially, tires are banned for buring here.

 

[/pine]

Here is what I am thinking. I have a bunch of 2" sheet stryrofoam and I am going to take three 5 gallon buckets and mix the stryrofoam into gasoline until is thickened.

this is a not just a bad idea it is a very stupid and ignorant thing to do...sorry...but if you do this you should be reported (and heavily fined ) to the EPA

I hope you reconsider...if not I hope you go to jail for such an ignorant act...

 

[cowboy357]

I Would Definatlly not Use any type of foam or styrofoam , it puts off toxic fumes & I,m sure the tree huggers & Epa Will be along soon also. Tires aint the Best thing for the Envirement either BUT , More then likelly would do the job much better .

As Allready Stated Use the Direction of the Breeze available to get it Going torwards the pile & Rather then Trying to Lite the whole thing at once Get a Couple of hot spots going on a smaller scale . These Will Dry it out Much Quicker .

Also if You Have any or can find any old Road Flares They Work great for starting the hotspots & Much safer then Dumping fuel on it . I Burn green stuff all the time in the Rain to even make less chance of it getting out of hand, & a few tires & Roadflares do the trick in most cases. Just Make sure Theres No Laws against using tires in Your area . Best of Luck. & No matter what You use, DO not be Downwind of it & a Good Mask would be even safer not to breath any dangerous fumes . Bob

 

[/pine]

To clarify...I'm no tree hugger...I personally burn lots of organic matter...

Carbon Dioxide (C02) is 20 times less harmful to the atmosphere than Methane (CH4) per molecule...

it only takes a second on Google to see how bad an idea of burning foam is though...

 

[Willl]

it only takes a second on Google to see how bad an idea of burning foam is though...

Same goes with the tires.

 

[cowboy357]

That Wasn,t Aimed at You /Pine , I Was still Typing When You had posted, So Sorry if You took it that way . & Yes I agree Its Not only Dangerous but very toxic . Bob

 

[rrmccabe]

Thanks for all the replies. I am just finding the right way to get it to burn. As I said, I had some decent piles going along the sides and could not get it to go. Had pretty good air blowing into it as well. I just want to find some type of accelerant that gets things heated without causing issues for the neighbors (which are not close).

Thanks again