How to Burn Debris Safely, Part 3 – Using a Burn Barrel

You can reduce the risk of wildfire when using a burn barrel to dispose of backyard debris if you make sure:


Your burn barrel is of all-metal construction and is in good condition. When checking your barrel, look at the walls and bottom to make sure rust hasn't weakened them, even in spots.

Make sure your barrel is properly ventilated by evenly spacing three 3" square vents near the bottom around the rim and backing each vent with a metal screen.

Put a metal screen on top of your barrel to keep sparks from igniting vegetation - it's recommended you use 14 gauge wire mesh size of 1/4" or finer.

Have a shovel, rake and plenty of water near the burn site.

NEVER use an accelerant in a burn barrel or burn pile. Especially if you like your eyebrows!

Start small and add as you go ... put small twigs and branches at the bottom of the barrel because they ignite quickly, and make sure to stir frequently to introduce new oxygen. After you've established a vigorous heat source from your twigs, etc., add leaves, needles, and bark in small increments and continue to stir frequently to make sure everything gets burned. You'll want to add to your fire gradually because if you have a lot of debris burning in your barrel at once, the intense heat it will generate can cause embers to fly high and over your control line.

REMEMBER, it's illegal to burn just about anything that isn't from a tree or shrub. That means you'll need to take your plastic items (surprisingly, that including window envelopes as they give off toxic fumes), tires, batteries, asphalt, treated wood, pesticide containers, petroleum products, etc. to the landfill.

When you're finished burning, make sure the fire is OUT! Pour water on it, stir it, then pour more water on it and monitor it for two hours to make sure it doesn't reignite. It's hard to believe, but days and even weeks after a fire is thought to be out, a burn pile or barrel can still hold heat! With warm spells, the humidity drops. Add a little Boncarbo wind gust and embers can not only be reignited, but they can be tossed willy-nilly which may just spell disaster for you and your loved ones.

As always, keep your burn site a safe distance away from trees, overhanging branches, vehicles, and/or structures.


To be completely safe, consider an alternative to burning. Can you use your planned burn as compost to enrich your soil? Or how about building a shelter for the rabbits, etc. to live in - if you layer branches and twigs in different directions on top of small logs, you'll be making nesting areas for various wildlife.

If, heaven forbid, your fire gets away from you, call 9-1-1 immediately. You can always try to get the fire under control with the water, shovel, & rake you have nearby AFTER help is on the way.


Posted by Colleen C.