Burning Muddy Wood?

Burning the wood with mud on it should not be a problem.
Burning the wood floor with a finish, I would not. You would be burning a chemical and you don't know what toxins will go into the air.
Best of luck in dealing with the clean up.

I agree totally.

Wolves-Lower, it sounds like you've done a ton of work and there is probably even more to do yet. Glad you are getting it together. Wish we were closer so I could give you a hand.

Sorry to hear of your flood problems. Not an easy task to recoupe from. If my wood has dirt on it I do like you said, knock them together when dry to knock off as much as possible. If a little is left on the wood it won't hurt and will add just a little to your ash supply.

Others wouldn't burn the flooring but I would depending on what it looked like. A lot of the poisons were released when this finish dried but there will still be some left. Mixed in with good wood it shouldn't overheat and the few toxins which may be released are very minor compared to what is released every single second by all of us. I have burned lots of old furniture and painted items inside and out with no problems......so do what you feel is right for you. If you think it is a bad idea don't do it and sleep well or if it doesn't seem like a bad idea do it and still sleep well. %-P

Either way won't have much of an influence on our fresh air which is circulated worldwide across many dirty industrial areas that would make your chimney stack seem clean no matter what you put in it. I do try to be green but sometimes I think it is carried way too far. If this isn't burned where will it go, the landfill or left to rot somewhere putting the residue into the ground and eventually the water supply? What about everything else washed away? Will it all be picked up and disposed of? I doubt that would be possible.

Edit: Maybe I should clarify, I don't go looking for junk wood to burn but if I have some from a project or work around the house I don't hesitate to burn it. I won't burn treated lumber or some very heavily painted woods but most don't fall into this catagory. As others have advised, it is not good to burn this stuff, at least on a regular basic.

Jags is right about letting the rain clean up the wood for you. do not burn wood that is painted, chemically treated, etc...
Good luck with your clean up project.

Unless you have another use for the ash produce, muddy wood is fine. When it dries- smash 2 pieces together as you pick them up to bring them in- I do this to reduce mess and bugs anyway.

I would have more issue with the muddy wood, as I use the resultant ah in pottery glazes and a little dirt really effects the chemical composition as the ash is only a very small % of the initial weight of the wood.