AFTER we’ve gotten our burn permit from Chief Mary Ann (see “How to Burn Debris Safely – Part One”), we’ll prepare our burn site so that an ember, flame, or radiant heat doesn’t reach nearby vegetation and possibly start a fire that may quickly get out of control.
With safety the number one priority, we’ll make sure our vertical clearance is three or more times higher than the pile we plan to burn. Just because we can’t see radiant heat above the flames leaping several feet into the air, it doesn’t mean it’s not there … and it doesn’t mean it won’t go even higher. For that reason, we’ll check to make sure there aren’t any power lines or overhanging limbs above the burn site. We’ll also move vehicles well away from the burn area and make sure the burn site is nowhere near the house or outbuildings.
Taking fire very seriously, we’ll clear a minimum of ten feet in diameter around our burn pile or barrel, and we’ll make sure the debris pile or barrel is surrounded by nothing more than soil or gravel. We’ll also water the area around the burn site before we light the debris, and we’ll make sure we have a fire extinguisher or hose AND a shovel handy – just in case.
Right about now you’re probably thinking, “First of all, this sounds like an awful lot of work, and second – who is this we you keep talking about?”, but a well-prepared burn site will reduce the possibility of regret once that piles goes up in flames. I’m pretty sure we’ll … okay … you’ll be glad you made the effort.
Part three of the “How to Burn Debris Safely” series will discuss the use of a burn barrel and will be posted at a later date.
Posted by Colleen C.
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