I know about that problem. After lots of practice, it can be corrected. It really pays to not be blunt when you are trying to educate/help.
From the first post, it does sound like he plans to continuously scrounge for wood so he will be better prepared for next year. It makes it sound like you have already made an impression on him. Many folks starting out have done the same thing the first year. There are lots who think standing a dead tree will be ready to burn right away. Keep educating him as the opportunities arise. A moisture tester can definitely be handy during this time. Splitting small, loosely stacking some wood close to the wood stove to help it dry, sources of dry wood, ie. pallets Bite you tongue as needed & continue being a good neighbor!
I get smoke like that on a reload for about 15 minutes or so. Glad to say it goes away and I get nothing till the next reload. Have some nice dry ash and maple with a little oak mixed in from the father in law. Dry wood is good..lol..
My neighbor has been burning probably 30 years and still looks like that. At best he burns one year wood. But he does have a dragon.
"11:04:00 am - Truck 42 filled Box 17-7 for a chimney fire at 3500 Falling Spring Road, the Truck crew was assigned to the roof on arrival checking the chimney finding a build up on the chimney cover and along the liner, the owner declined assistance wishing to take care of themselves. Command 17 placed units in service." It's about 1.4 miles down the road, always has that thick white plume.
Maybe he wasn't the one that called, maybe a neighbor saw the sparks flying about from the chimney if it did catch a bit.
When I was younger, we had an indoor cat escape and climb waaaay up a big oak tree in the yard. We actually called the FD to ask if they actually got cats out of trees, they don't He was gone when we got up the next morning. About a year later, my mom found him hanging out at a thrift store down the road she was volunteering at. Brought him home and he lived out front the rest of his life. He was a weird cat. He drooled when he was happy, and liked to headbutt you as well...
Had a cat stuck in a tree a few houses up one time, darn thing was up there for 2 or 3 days and was afraid to come down. I finally got the task of getting him down, cut the limb he was on and he came down about 50ft and when his feet hit the ground you would have thought his tail was on fire.
I don't know Locust Post a true hoarder would have said I got to cut the whole tree down, but don't worry I'll take the wood off your hands.
Here is another local reminder to check your chimney's ... 10' FLAMES? ? ? ? 9:03:00 pm - Dispatched for a chimney fire at 1422 Lincoln Way East, PSP on scene reporting 10 foot flames from the chimney prior to FD arrival. Engine 45 on scene to find a 2 story single family wood frame embers from the chimney, the crew advanced a 1.5 inch line to side A and investigated all floors including attic and basement with TIC, found very light haze in the attic. Confirmed no extension. C46 held Sta4 and E17-1. T42 used ground ladders to access roof reporting fire in the chimney. E17-1 assisted E45 and E43 staged. Crews used a dry chem on division 1 to extinguish fire in the flue. Ran chains twice. Cleaned out fire box. No fire visible in flue. Advised homeowner to have a professional inspect and clean flue.
Tried to explain the concept of properly drying fire wood over time and getting ahead quite a few times in 2014. You really have to open the conversation with something that gets their attention cause most just assume dry means out of the rain before burning. I go with statements about high room temperatures, no smoke, long burns but it is soo frustrating getting the point across. My wife & son back me up. I mean, I even offer to help split stack. I brought some very dry Hickory to a New Years Day party that has an outdoor fire pit that just sizzles every year. When I tossed in six splits and it got going, people had to back away from the fire and accused me of dumping Rum in the fire! I refer many people to this website, do we have business cards? On another note, at that party they invite everyone to bring their Christmas Trees to burn in another bonfire further out back. We pull a permit for it and boy do those trees go up. Probably 10 trees and a few wreaths went in. Have to get pictures added here. Its a tradition and we make a huge batch of Gumbo, Black-Eyed Peas, Collards and tons of other food. Some crazy crock of cheese dip that I overdosed on. Rum & Beer of course.
