Land Clearing: Burning

โ€œThinking will not overcome fear but action will.โ€
– W. Clement Stone

Two years ago Frank the Digger did some land clearing for us, burning some of the brambles and broom he cleared, but a couple of piles were left. With my recent spree of clearing patches of brambles along our access road, we had plenty of kindling, and as the ground was wet from the recent rain, we decided, two days after Michael arrived, to attempt our first burn.

I diligently applied for a burning permit, which we are told the locals don’t bother with, but after living in the UAE for a decade, we are very careful to follow rules, even if they appear to be just ‘suggestions’. It was simple and straightforward, so really no reason to not play it safe.

The day dawned grey and without a puff of wind, which made for the perfect conditions to burn the five piles of rubbish. Michael quickly learned that a fairly large amount of petrol was needed to start the fires, and although we are both familiar with how to start a fire for a braai (barbeque), neither one of us have set fire to big piles of organic matter before. The resultant “whoof” of ignition made him jump and me squeal every time without fail.

Some of the piles burned much easier than others, but they all needed tending to ensure everything got burned. It was a hot, sweaty job, even on a chilly winter’s day, but I think we both had fun in the process despite being tired and smelly at the end of it.

Here is a short 2 minute video of our efforts.

Portuguese Words:
o fogo – fire
queimar – burn
quente – hot

Notes:
Application for a permit to burn.

Written by: Jolandi

14 comments on “Land Clearing: Burning

  1. It does sound a little intimidating to burn a brush pile because I always have some horror story in the back of my mind about a controlled burn that quickly got out of control. Glad your controlled burn remained so.
    Best,
    Tanja

    • Because it is so wet, the chances for a fire to get out of control is small, but because some of the piles were a bit big we were very nervous, Tanja. Especially as we’ve never done something like this before. I think making a small fire and just keep feeding it, is most probably the best way to go, although I’m not sure that is always possible. I’m definitely cautious when it comes to fire. – Jolandi

  2. How satisfying to get rid of all those brushwood heaps! My husband loves a bonfire and can always find an excuse to go to the end of the garden and set a heap of dried clippings, prunings and other garden waste alight I do have to remind him not to light one when neighbours have washing hanging out or on a nice day when we all have our windows open. We don’t need burning permits here but we do have to try not to upset our neighbours with smoke pollution and we always make sure all is safe and the fire is extinguished before leaving it.
    I hope the cats have settled down in their new home xx

    • There definitely is something very satisfying in making a fire, Clare. Perhaps a link to our primitive selves. ๐Ÿ˜‰ After we’ve done our first burn, I think I will now be comfortable to do some small burns on my own.
      The cats are settling down nicely. We are trying to make them used to going outside, but they (and I) are still very jittery, so we keep it to short excursions. – Jolandi

  3. You and Michael are braver souls than me! As a child, I used to watch my father burn piles of brush and other plant trimmings at my grandmother’s farm. They were supposed to apply for a permit as well, but like your neighbors, “nobody ever bothers.” One day the wind came up while Dad was burning an especially large pile of tree and old grapevine branches: a spark blew onto the roof of an old shed, setting it on fire. Fortunately, no one got hurt, and the only things inside of the shed were a bunch of old tools and farm equipment that no one had used in ages. (I imagine however that some antique dealer would have loved to have gotten hold of those old pitchforks, harnesses and plowing equipment.) It was also winter, so the grass and soil underneath were still too wet to catch fire. My father was able to keep the fire from getting bigger with a garden hose, but I was terrified—I was about six at the time—and for a long time had nightmares about being trapped in a burning building. Anyway, since then I’ve been very reluctant to start anything bigger than a barbecue grill. I’m also glad I live in a city that collects garden waste for composting. Farmers around here still do controlled burns, but the laws are very strict now. Which I am also glad for!

    • I can completely understand your fear, Hangaku, as the memory must have imprinted itself into your soul. At that age we are so impressionable, and the whole incident could have had such a different ending. Fire is definitely not something I take lightly either, and I must confess that I’m also far more comfortable with a barbeque size fire. My dad, on the farm, regularly did controlled burns to create fire breaks. One day the wind changed direction, quickly blowing the flames into the direction of the pickup where my oldest brother (around two years old at the time) was sitting. My father got burned quite severely on the lower part of his legs, as he ran through the flames to move the pickup and my brother out of danger. Like you point out, accidents can happen so quickly even when one is experienced.
      We are certainly planning to rather get rid of wood cuttings by passing them through a chipper, so that they can go into our compost. Burning material that can otherwise be useful feels like a waste to us, but it is the only way we have to deal with brambles, so I guess we just have to be cautious when we do so. – Jolandi

  4. You are braver than I; I worry (probably too much) about “loose” fires and how quickly they might get beyond my ability to extinguish them. Perhaps all the wildfires out west in the U.S., where we have been living part-time, has me a bit skittish! Good to read that it was wet there and that you felt in control the whole time. Also happy to read in the comments that the cats are doing well so far!

    • Fire can so quickly get out of control, Lexie, hence our own nervousness. Summer in Portugal is also a time when wildfires can quickly get out of hand as it did a couple of years ago. Winter, when we get our rain, is the only time one is allowed to burn, and there is a very specific cut off date for that. Fire is most definitely not something to take lightly.
      Yes, the cats are starting to settle in nicely, and we are all getting a bit less nervous when they are outside exploring. I have to confess that I am a bit of a helicopter parent. ๐Ÿ˜‰ – Jolandi

  5. Definitely don’t recommend using petrol to start a fire.
    Try diesel or paraffin or firelighters or oil and often with a bit of dry kindling they’ll go anyway and once a big pile get’s going it’ll happily burn wet stuff as you may have discovered!

    • Michael confesses that he was too lazy to go buy diesel or paraffin as he should have, Trevor, and simply made use of what was at hand. We are still working towards being more organised, but with every task we are slowly getting there. I now have a good stash of firelighters for the next time I have to burn. Also, now that we have dealt with those big piles, the plan is to, next time, just make a small fire and feed it. That way I would feel much more in control. – Jolandi

  6. Hello Jolandi,
    Very glad (and relieved) to see that the “burning” went smoothly.
    It’s wonderful to see you reunited with Michael and the cats.
    Hope you are all continuing to stay safe and warm.

    • It is wonderful to have Michael here for a short while, Takami. A pity he has to go back on Friday. Time goes by so quickly. The cats and I will miss him. Our little house is nice and warm though, so that is a blessing. Hope you and your hubby are well, and also staying warm and healthy. – Jolandi

  7. We are in apocalyptic levels of pollution from farm’s continuing to practice slash and burn agriculture so it’s nice to see how careful you were about burning the brambles ~ and it’s nice to know that this isn’t like some large scale thingy that effects everyone around them. I fear I will never enjoy a cozy fire ever again. ๐Ÿ˜›

    • Yip, slash and burn is terrible for air quality, Lani, and I’m not sure it is the best way to farm either. We tend to follow the practices we are taught without questioning them, but so often they are outdated and cause harm to the environment. I find that I’m questioning a lot of my beliefs at the moment, as I would like to be a good custodian to the land. I have so much to learn! – Jolandi

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