Pile Burning

Firestorm personnel are trained wildland fire fighters that take great pride in performing each process of fire hazard reduction in a safe and effective manner. Whenever fire is a part of the fuel reduction process, supervisors and employees take whatever precaution is available to ensure that safety is a top priority. Piles to be burned typically have a water source nearby, crews also have shovels and other hand tools to scrape fire lines (bare earth) around each pile or an area the piles are located. Ignition occurs only after all proper protocols have been met.

Though somewhat controversial, pile burning is probably the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of the excess material cut during a fire hazard reduction process. The cut material is piled by hand in locations that minimize the scorching of overstory trees or surrounding vegetation. Once the pile is constructed a small amount of flammable fluid is lit in a specialized firing device (drip-torch) and the pile is burned. The amount fuel to light the fire is miniscule in comparison to the amount expended in hauling the material to a disposal location to then be chipped and burned for power generation or composting. During the winter months when burning is acceptable, low barometric pressure and winds tend to disperse any smoke before reaching into the atmosphere.

Tips for Burning Leaves and Brush Piles Safely:

It is VERY IMPORTANT to follow local fire and air quality regulations!

• Establish wide firebreaks around piles of leaves and brush to be burned. Firebreaks should be free of vegetation and wide enough to contain burning embers that may fall or roll from the pile. The larger the pile to be burned, the wider the firebreak should be.
• Keep debris piles small, gradually adding to the fires as they burn down. Adding fuel gradually will keep fire intensity lower and lessen the chances that material will roll or be lofted over firebreaks into flammable vegetation. Large piles of burning debris generate intense heat capable of carrying relatively heavy burning embers up and away from the fire, perhaps far from the original fire.
• Select burn locations away from overhanging branches and utility lines. Intense heat rising from a fire could ignite leaves and branches of trees or damage overhead lines and disrupt essential utility services.
• Keep water and equipment handy. Have an available supply of water on hand to use in case your fire should get away. Mechanized equipment may be necessary to contain fires arising from brush pile burning, as embers may be blown farther from the fire and have more time to grow into an uncontrollable wildfire before you can get to the spot fire.
• Stay informed about possible weather changes. Gusty winds and changes in wind direction often accompany the passage of weather fronts. Thunderstorms may also generate strong gusts and downdrafts. Outdoor burning should be postponed when gusty winds are present or expected to occur during the time that burning would be in progress.

General Safety Tips

• Check local laws and ordinances. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours; others forbid it entirely. Counties may also restrict outdoor burning during periods of high or extreme fire danger.
• Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble may be of more value if they are not burned. Composting can yield valuable organic matter that can be used to enrich the soil, while helping extend the useful life of landfills. Household trash such as glass and metal that can’t be composted can be hauled away to a recycling center or landfill.
• Don’t burn outdoors during dry, windy weather when vegetation in the vicinity is dry and fire-prone. It may only take a very small spark or burning ember to ignite dry vegetation. Winds may not only carry the burning material into surrounding vegetation, but also fan the flames and spread the fire rapidly.
• Before you burn trash or other debris outdoors, contact your local fire department to let them know of your plans. You can find out if it is safe to burn outdoors and, in the event your fire should escape, firefighters will already have an idea of where the fire is located.
• Stay with your fire. Should your fire escape, you may be able to stop its spread before it becomes large enough to require additional personnel and equipment to contain it.