What is now being called the Highway 31 Fire has destroyed 70 homes, forced at least 4000 evacuations and blazed through thousands of acres in northeastern South Carolina since it began on Wednesday, April 22. While the fire's cause is still under investigation, two tickets were issued in the area by South Carolina Forestry Commission law enforcement officers to a man from Conway, S.C., who was burning household garbage in his yard. He was cited for failure to notify the Forestry Commission and allowing fire to spread.
On the other side of the country, on the day the blaze in South Carolina began, contractor Channing Verden was released on a $250,000 bail after being charged with causing a wildfire in Santa Clara County that destroyed 132 buildings on May 22, 2008. The purpose of the fire that spread and got out of control: To clear brush--a whopping 20 tons of it. Verden burned the brush and fallen pines he cleared from 5 acres of land and, prosecutors say, left smoldering piles that ignited nearby brush and trees and slowly spread into a giant fire.
Backyard fires are a worthy tradition--gathering large sticks and small logs for a fire pit can help tidy a yard and lead to an evening filled with S'mores and ghost stories. But taking backyard-cleanup-by-fire any further is a dirty, time-wasting and even dangerous pursuit. In small amounts, brush is hardly an eyesore, and when it seriously accumulates in the yard--because of fallen trees or storms--there are better ways to take care of the plant matter than to burn it. Here are some tips on how to deal with brush in your backyard.
Note: Given landfills and modern-day sanitation services in most regions of the country, burning garbage should not be an option. If you're in a rural area where there is no garbage service--throw the garbage in your pickup and haul it to the nearest landfill or transfer station.
Avoid Accumulating Brush Piles
It doesn't make sense to pile up brush (unless, that is, you're piling it to provide wildlife habitat; see our third tip below). In fact, it only becomes noticeable when trees fall during major storms. To take care of excess brush from fallen trees, follow some simple steps:
- Limb the tree, removing all branches and placing big limbs in a pile.
- Skid the log out for lumber or begin converting into firewood.
- Convert the big limbs into firewood.
- Leave limbs that are too small for firewood where they lay. If that's unsightly, clip the limbs down into smaller pieces using a lopper. Or, if you're equipped, chip the limbs into brush.
Compost, Fertilize and Distribute
Leaves, garden debris, and yard debris can all be converted into mulch, either deliberately or slowly left to rot on its own. First, separate the debris into sticks and limbs in one pile and smaller organic materials in the other. Chip the sticks and limbs into smaller pieces and scatter them to make them less noticeable. Small-diameter woody growth begins steady decomposition from the moment it's cut, and the more it's cut into smaller lengths, the more rapid its decomposition. Then toss the leaves, vines and other debris into a rotating compost bin, which will speed up the process of decomposition. Creating a pile of leaves, dirt and other yard debris is another effective way to compost, but the piles requires weekly turnover to aid decomposition.
Build a Habitat
A brush pile can provide habitat for small wildlife and draw birds more effectively to a bird feeder by providing them a place to escape to. Build a brush pile around the base of a large tree by piling sticks and branches in a circle around the tree, or construct one in open spaces with a log or cinder block at the base with sticks, leaves and other brush piled on top.