Burning Brush Piles: How would you handle this?

PICS added - Burning Brush Piles: How would you handle this?

Hey Guys (and Ladies)-

I'm going to "de-lurk" because I could really use your guidance.

This year, we purchased 26 acres in North East Texas from a guy who did a bunch of dozer work clearing part of the pasture. There are two HUGE piles of debris, mostly full grown trees, we'd like to get rid of somehow (see pics). These are fully dry, as they've sat for about 3 years.

Question #1: You'll see they tried to burn it, but I'm guessing it was too green at the time. How do burn such a big pile? It's approximately 100' x 30' and about 10-12' high. It's BIG. Do I go buy a case of Kingsford charcoal lighter? I'm not sure how to get it started and keep it going.

Question #2: You'll see the stumps are packed with dirt (sandy loam). I'm guessing those roots won't burn. How do I get rid of them? We're going to build a home on the hill and it's a real eyesore.

Once again, I learn a TON from this awesome community! :newbie:I promise to "de-lurk" and contribute more often. (I just didn't feel I knew enough to share yet).

Thanks!

P.S. Hope the pictures come through...
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5 gallons of red diesel and a propane weed burner to get it started would work. gotta do it when the grass is green and you probably need to disk around it for a firebreak. call your fire department and let them know you're burning it so if it DOES get away from you you'll be ready. If you don't call them they will show up and put it out when someone else calls and says "retard over there has a hell of a fire" welcome to AS

Another one

Just to add to my original post, we also have some log/brush piles that look like this (see pic). They're crammed up into existing trees and along fence rows. I'm guessing I'd need to pull all this out with the backhoe before I burn it???

There's probably a half dozen of these piles around the property.

Any ideas and advice are welcome!
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i scare easy

had a fire get away from me once

i'd wait till there was snow on the ground and have a piece of diesel equipment to push it in as it burns up


the dirt drops off the stumps as they burn

jimbojango said:

5 gallons of red diesel and a propane weed burner to get it started would work. gotta do it when the grass is green and you probably need to disk around it for a firebreak. call your fire department and let them know you're burning it so if it DOES get away from you you'll be ready. If you don't call them they will show up and put it out when someone else calls and says "retard over there has a hell of a fire" welcome to AS

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Jimbojango - thanks for advice...I hadn't thought about calling the fire department BEFORE we light up.

Oh...and by the way...it would't be the first time someone has referred to me as that "retard over there!"

yeah, you need a tractor and disk or a dozer there when you burn, using a backhoe or tractor or dozer to get your piles "piles" about 100' from anything else is key to not having a fire get away, also, several small piles are better than 1 huge one. You can burn each pile on a different weekend, you do know the piles will burn a day or 2 or 5 before they go out right? but usually after the first day we just disk around them once its safe and keep a good eye on them

could always put up a "free firewood" ad on craigslist and release the scavengers onto the pile (if you can trust them).... some of the guys on here would make those piles of good timbers disappear (except roots of course) in a couple weekends time

my first thought is why dont you use that wood to burn?

my second thought if you are not interested in that is i am sure you could put a add on criagslist for free dry firewood to cut and haul off.

i would love to take the wood but i dont live in TX anymore.

Post the "free firewood" on CL in the Panhandle and say it has a lot of mesquite in it.

Might need to get out the referee shirt.


If you do burn HOPE the dozer man was an operator not a driver. Operator won't push in a lot of dirt.

After 3 years might only need a small bale or 2 of straw to start it.

Looks like a guy could get a good amount of firewood out of that pile...
...or just start a fire like a camp fire in the middle of it all....she'll burn up...fire in the hole!

Regarding the decent looking firewood - it would be a shame around here just to burn that up. Either Craig's List it or see if there is a church group or something like that who might be interested in getting firewood for someone in need. There is a list member here on AS who is connected with a group called Interfaith - if there is such a group near you they might love that wood.

As far as burning: Sometimes, around here, a homeowner can ask the fire department if the department wants or needs fire 'training' - they might just come out and do the burning for you. You can just stand around and pass out the hot dogs & buns........

Shari

Refer to previous post " Using Used Motor Oil".

Used tires may also be inserted into brush piles for burns. :yoyo:

logbutcher said:

Refer to previous post " Using Used Motor Oil".

Used tires may also be inserted into brush piles for burns. :yoyo:

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Now your starting to sound like Pook....quick somebody call a doctor!:chainsawguy:

CrappieKeith said:

Now your starting to sound like Pook....quick somebody call a doctor!:chainsawguy:

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Nah, he's got the flue, and a typical symptom is to pook.

+1 for Free Wood on craigslist

let people scrounge, you'll have a little less to burn and to worry about

wdchuck said:

Nah, he's got the flue, and a typical symptom is to pook.

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Second the replies of let some folks cut the useable firewood out of the piles. When you are ready to burn, call the fire dept. to see if they have a burn ban on or not, if they say you are good, ask if they would like to come out to do a controlled burn. Most of the dept. around us will come out for a donation, much better than being held liable for damages to the neighbors property if something gets out of hand.
If you can't get the fire dept. to come out, wait till you have a rainy day and put a square bale of hay in the middle of the pile, soak it in diesel and push the pile on top and light it. Always good to have a tractor on hand to round the piles up as they burn down.

I agree with the others that it would be best to have people needing firewood come reduce the pile. You could pull the uprooted trees out to where people can get them. Once you are left with the stumps, I would roll them out into a new pile to get rid of a lot of the dirt before burning. Burn on a cool rainy day and be sure that you have cleared an ample firebreak around the pile. Be wary of sparks that could ignite grass away from the fire. As mentioned, the piles could smolder for days after you start the fire.

We can burn stuff here. We just have to get a burning permit, which is free and accessible on the internet, and burn on a day that it is OK, which is most of the Winter.

The stumps? Stumps take time and if you want to burn them up completely you'll need some equipment. Disclaimer: I live in a rain forest. It is wet here for 9 months or more so we can safely burn piles. Now, having said that, here's a method for stumps. Shake as much dirt out of them and pile them as well as you can. Get them started burning. Then let them burn, maybe even overnight and then if you can, repile them. Continue repiling or as we call it, chunking them until they are burned. It may take a few days.

The non-firewood brush? Once again, repile it in a suitable opening. Try and get the smaller stuff placed in the bottom of the pile, that's what takes off first. Shake off the dirt, pile and compact the rest of the brush. If you need a dry spot and can't burn it right away, you can put a bit of plastic on it so you'll have a dry core or place to get it going. Then, light it and let it burn. Big piles will often just burn the center wood, so you'll need to come back and chunk it up.

You don't need tires to get slash to burn. A propane flame thrower works and so does getting it going like you would do a campfire, and using a leafblower to help it grow. You may also want to get a drip torch, which you put diesel in, light a wick and it will drip fire out. Fusees are also good to get things going. See, there's many methods. I've even used Napalm.

The most important part is to try to keep it clean--dirt and mud will prevent it from burning well. Then CHUNK.

wdchuck said:

Nah, he's got the flue, and a typical symptom is to pook.

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You say what ? "Flue" where ?:hmm3grin2orange: