How to start a fire?

[SD51555]

So everything got rained and snowed on last weekend. I'd like to burn all sorts of brush this weekend, but I don't have a single piece of firewood that isn't wet right now. How would you get a fire going? I've got a weed burner and a leaf blower to aid in the effort.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing for a 10’ high, 15-20’ around brush pile I have. I’ve lit it twice using just a small fire started back underneath that I keep hoping will get hot and big enough and it hasn’t yet. You may have to just get lots of propane and run they burner for a while to dry some stuff out and get some heat…

 

[omicron1792]

Diesel fuel.

 

[Mortenson]

Some guys might say a tire.

 

[GMan5465]

I watched a video where the guy started the fire on top of the brush pile and kept feeding it. As it worked down through the pile , it dried the wood on all sides. I tried it once and it seemed to work but you need to keep feeding it with sticks…and diesel fuel never hurts!

 

[SD51555]

Normally, I'd have 10-15 pieces of dry firewood under a tub for just this reason. I've used it all. I've had a foot of snow on a stump and brush pile and gotten it going by putting 10-15 pieces of dry firewood inside and getting it going with the torch then letting it rip with the blower.

I think I may end up borrowing some dry firewood from my neighbor.

 

[SD51555]

Would birch with intact bark be dry on the inside? Would that bark shed water?

 

[SD51555]

Or do I go find ash that i know is dead and dry, split it, and try to burn the insides right away?

 

[bueller]

Stick a fireplace log inside. Start small and build up like you would a campfire. Then take some used motor oil or citronella oil to enhance your flame from time to time until she's on. Leaf blower helps once going strong but not really for starting.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Birch bark with some thin, dead pine branches is always a great combo that will work when wet. Just have a good supply of birch bark to get going and slowly add more small branches until the fire is big enough to add larger sticks.

I also always leave a few old newspapers in the cab of my truck for emergency fire use. Some thin plastic garbage will also melt and provide a good fire starting base in wet conditions.

 

[jsasker007]

A few cardboard boxes gets burning hot but not for very long if that would get some of the little branches burning.

 

[SD51555]

Birch bark with some thin, dead pine branches is always a great combo that will work when wet. Just have a good supply of birch bark to get going and slowly add more small branches until the fire is big enough to add larger sticks.

I also always leave a few old newspapers in the cab of my truck for emergency fire use. Some thin plastic garbage will also melt and provide a good fire starting base in wet conditions.

Ooh. This is a winner. I've got a bunch I just knocked down that I could go get.

I broke down and bought firewood at Menards for this too over lunch. Three bundles of very dry and thinly split ash for $15 total. I'm thinking two piles ought to do it for all the yard cleanup. I'm a little excited for this too. Last time I did any meaningful burning in the woods, morels popped up.

 

[Brian662]

I've burned green buckthorn seconds after cutting it. Just have to get a can of diesel to get the fire going and may have to splash some in there every once in a while. Once the coals get hot it takes care of itself, can't see this being any different.

 

[West_Fork]

So everything got rained and snowed on last weekend. I'd like to burn all sorts of brush this weekend, but I don't have a single piece of firewood that isn't wet right now. How would you get a fire going? I've got a weed burner and a leaf blower to aid in the effort.

lumagel

 

[KY wild]

Plenty of good advice, just quick thought maybe at least one of you may try and appreciate. A short classic story which only takes a few minutes to read and well worth your time is
"To Build a Fire" by Jack London. Google it sometime, it is a great short read if you have never read it. One of my favorites

 

[SD51555]

lumagel

Huh?

 

[homerj]

Styrofoam and gasoline

 

[Dogshooter]

If you’ve got standing dead ash cut that and split it and you’ll be golden.

 

[marko]

If you have access to a bale of straw, douce it with diesel fuel and tuck under brush pile.

 

[Turkish]

So everything got rained and snowed on last weekend. I'd like to burn all sorts of brush this weekend, but I don't have a single piece of firewood that isn't wet right now. How would you get a fire going? I've got a weed burner and a leaf blower to aid in the effort.

Square hay bale, diesel and a leaf blower.

ETA: @marko beat me to it!