Burning Wood in the Drought?

Folks, I'm not sure about where you live, however, it's been bone-dry here in NJ. Continuous Red Flag warnings with high winds, huge leaf piles all over the place etc. I'm not concerned about an ember escaping the chimney pipe, rather, safe disposal of ashes.

Does this look like a good choice?

 

Here in Ct we have been under a warning as well. They have been saying no " outdoor" burning. I use a metal can similar for ashes , smaller and picked it up at tractor supply. That should work , no doubt that will hold a lot of ashes at 31 gallons.

 

I use a similar metal can for holding ashes outside.

 

Thats what I use, no problems. There's been a few forest fires near my area of NJ. Did you see the Ghost Bridge at Oak Ridge Reservoir?

 

Just don't dump it out until any ashes that are in there are at least 2-3 weeks old, minimum!
Better yet, buy 2 and dump the oldest one in the spring after burn season is over (and things are likely wet)

 

See it? Heck, I used to look for it on sonar when I fished that place. There were always some bass on it during hot summer days.

 

My ash can stays beside the burner. Usually at least a couple of days pass before I take it to the pile

 

I just use a dedicated ash bucket and let it set inside covered until it absolutely needs emptied, then ash goes in my garden. You could dig a hole for yours if concerned, so no ember would catch anything on fire.

 

If dumping in the woods or somewhere there's something to burn, that's not enough time to guarantee no hot embers...I'm sure you know this, but others may not.

 

Yes. My dad used a similar unlidded pail when he scooped out the ashes. Put it on the sidewalk out side until it was disposed of outside.

You can always bring some water and wet them after they're dumped out.

We have a burn ban here in CT and use the firepit outside to start the charcoal for the grill. Couple weeks ago we were going to fire it up (no pun intended) to grill and the burn ban had just started. We live surrounded by woods.

 

That's what I use when I clean out my wood boiler. Still haven't fired that up yet mostly because temperatures haven't called for it yet. I am a little hesitant though. We just went 42 days without measurable rain, got less than a 1/4" Sunday night and it looks like at least another week to week and a half before we get any more rain.

 

It's just in the yard, close to the burn barrel. Not anywhere with fuel close by.

Early morning I've found is a great time for me to do ash cleaning since the fire is low and not dropping coals and embers. I like an ash bed on the grate, so I don't bother with any cleaning of it in the morning. It gets a shake in evening when I get home and reload to drop any clinkers.

 

I use a smaller version. I would think that 31 gallon can would get pretty heavy full of ash.

 

THIS I dumped out 5 day old ashes a few years ago and ended up with a fire in my backyard a few hours later.

 

I have two of these. They are a little thicker than a garbage can. There is a small hole in the lid so heat from smoldering embers has a place to go. The bail holds the lid on so it won't accidentally get knocked off. With two cans I can let one can cool off for several weeks before I dump them.

 

I can vouch for the heavy part. My last ash can finally rotted out, between the dogs pizzing on it and what little moisture mad it in. I give most of the ash to the neighbor and they use in in their chicken coup. I think I fill it 2 times a season. Probably get 2 smaller ones this year (soon!)

 

Never heard of using ashes in a chicken coop. I am going to save a bucket of ashes to go old school and make lye for my homemade soap.

 

I made soap from the run off of a hog roast. I didn't make the lye, but I did kill a stick blender.

 

I make soap every New Year in honor of my great, great, great grandmother who died in 1890's while making soap on that day. Her dress caught on fire and she passed from the injuries. So I do it old school like her on an open fire (no dress), use beef tallow and commercial lye. Like I said, going to try to make my own lye with ash leach this year.