I started using a leaf blower to help burn piles along. As others have stated, I start a small fire (good practice for building camp fires, I guess). Once the small fire is burning readily, start adding more and more and larger and larger stuff to the fire. When you've got the small-ish fire (think big camp-fire sized) covered with smoldering limbs, fire up the leaf blower and direct it at the fire. You'll think it's blowing gasoline into the fire, it burns so hot.
Repeat as necessary until one of the following criteria is met:
1. Too hot to get close enough to throw more stuff on.
2. Too tall to throw more stuff on it.
3. Nothing left to throw on it.
As the pile burns down, a little leaf blower action can bring it roaring back to life in moments.
Standard fire safety precautions apply, of course (air quality, fire line around pile, fuel moisture conditions of surrounding environs, suppression equipment, etc.).