Woodchip pile combustion

[PeteB]

exothermic reaction? Seen bales or straw and hay go up before now.

 

Back in the day, my woodchip pile caught fire on a hot summer day, possibly caused by a fag end or spark from the fire. We let it smoulder for quite a bit before the tractor scooped that section out and tossed it on the fire heap.

[nepia]

28 minutes ago, HuntingHicap said:

I worked on a greenwaste site years ago, if compost is stockpiled, as in built up in a heap, tracked down, more put on top, a fire is inevitable. Impossible to put out by conventional means. Had to build a temporary pond next to the mound and process the compost by the digger bucket load through the water.

The place I used to tip my hedge clippings at were on 'final warning' as they put it from the Fire Brigade a few years ago as their chip pile kept breaking out in small fires.  The only practical way to deal with it was to scoop out the burning section while hosing it down.  I guess the biomass market wasn't as buoyant then as now so the stuff sat around longer.

[nepia]

30 minutes ago, HuntingHicap said:

The correct way is to wind row it and turn regularly. Smells lovely.

Have you been watching those Youtube vids too?  ?

[HuntingHicap]

What youtube vids? Might have some logs for you soon Jon, job in croydon.